Posted by llurpsienoodle on February 2, 2008, at 7:25:41
In reply to Learning who your friends are and are not, posted by Happyflower on February 1, 2008, at 19:04:05
Happyflower, the real challenge is to find the good in EVERYBODY. Sometimes it's right there staring you at the face. Someone who does something unexpectedly kind and thoughtfull. Other times there are people who struggle to function in this world. They are people too and deserve our respect. I'm not saying that you have to be friends with everybody, but just to think about the people who hurt you. Where does their hurtfulness come from? Why did they attempt to offend you.
I asked my formerT once about how she deals with clients that are nasty or that she doesn't like. She said "Those are the ones that you have to reach deep inside for, for they are the ones who need your help"
As far as mere friendships go, I guess I don't divide people into friends and nonfriends. If a friend does something to piss me off, I do my best to try and understand what happened, to forgive, but not to forget. If a non-friend does something friendly, I reconsider why I always had a bad feeling about this person.
And my friends come in different shades of the rainbow too. Some are flighty and flaky like a biscuit. I am honored when they find the time to make me part of the chaos of their lives. Other friends are there no matter what. If I told them tomorrow that I was going to go live with them for the next 6 months they'd buy me a plane ticket. And some friends I'm just getting to know. Acquaintances who are friendly. Acquaintances that may surprise me with their kindness...
so many different kinds of people...
just some musings on a february morning
poster:llurpsienoodle
thread:810179
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20080130/msgs/810252.html