1. I don’t need to pretend

I could always be comfortable showing my antics and quirkiness around my friends. They may not always share the same thoughts or opinions, nor would they also randomly carry about singing on the top of their voices as I do, still, they would try their best to understand and listen, and occasionally sing-a-long when the “scene is safe” (actually, when there are no other people around) 🙂

I have learned to embrace my imperfections, and that I don’t need to stress about what other people would say about me, since I have my family and friends who have accepted my whole entity.

2. I don’t need to journey alone.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. -Proverbs 17: 17 (NIV)

Before, I had the wrong thought that asking for help was a sign of being weak, which resulted to a negative impact on my emotional well-being. I was anxious and burdened because I thought I need to make my way out of things. I was frustrated how other people can do it on their own while I felt I was drowning in my struggles.

I thank God for my family and friends who haved stayed with me through these times. I believe that they were His instruments for me to be grounded back in faith, relying not on my own strength and to know that I am not alone.

3. Distance does not matter.

I wish I can spend more time with my friends in person, but with work and other responsibilities that come along with various phases of life, and with the fact that I live far from my friends, meeting together becomes challenging. However, I am grateful that despite of the distance, and differences in time zone, I can still chat with the people who are dear to my heart; it may be over the phone or through social media, and may be as frequent as before. Catching up may be once a month to even just once a year, yet still, the friendship remains.

No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth. – Robert Southey

4. Friendship helps in self-recovery and healing

My friends have helped me accept the reality of the situations I have faced; and that in saying the truth, I have learned to let go and move on.

I remember coming back home devastated due to an issue at work. I immediately called one of my close friends to side with me regarding the situation. She allowed me to vent out, going on and on about how hurt I was, and how it was all unfair. After which, she said, ” You may not want to hear what I am about to say, but actually, you are not entirely right…”

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

-John 8:32 (NIV)

When things may not go as I have hope it would, I start to become narrow-minded and focus only on myself. It hurts, it truly does, when someone close to you would say that you were wrong. Yet I knew that my friend wanted me to see the bigger picture, not only reflecting on my own standpoint, but also on different angles of the problem such as factors which may have affected the situation, and the possible reasons why the concerned people have reacted a certain way.

Final Thoughts

I can go on to list the gems of wisdom my dear friends have shared. To my friends, wherever you are, I pray that you and your family are well and safe.

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