So here is this week’s quote about friendship:

THERE IS NOTHING I WOULD NOT DO FOR THOSE WHO ARE REALLY MY FRIENDS. I HAVE NO NOTION OF LOVING PEOPLE BY HALVES, IT IS NOT MY NATURE.

JANE AUSTEN

MEANING:

Austen really gets to the heart of exactly what I think true friendship is all about – honest and enduring affection for one another. The first part really brings home the fact that true friends are like your family – in the sense that you share in all their triumphs and in their sadness and really care about their present and future. They are your everything and you would never want to live without them and like family you know you’ll see them for as long as you’re both living and breathing. Because of this – you would do anything for them and your relationship is based on a selfless love and compassion for one another.

But what really strikes a chord with my understanding of friendship is when she talks about never loving people by halves. I am very aware of and thankful everyday for having great friends, not fake friends! Unfortunately many people often engage in false or empty “friendships”, where there is a lot of talk of besties and parading of friendships etc. but behind this facade very little real, selfless care for the other person and sometimes even dislike. To me this is not a friend at all, rather a friend is someone who you are always honest with about the way you feel – where there is no wall and you are completely comfortable being yourselves around each other. Because if you constantly talk about someone behind their back, you’re not friends – well not in my dictionary anyway!

Instead, as Austen reminds us, true friendship lies in honesty and selfless love, as a foundation for a strong and enduring support network of people.

HOW TO USE IT:

Work on making true friends, friends that matter and will matter in 20 years time! Ignore people who don’t make you feel the way I’ve described and don’t waste your time running after someone or trying to change for them until they think you’re cool. Find people who love you for you are – don’t worry, there are plenty of people out there and often an honest approach to others will inspire the same treatment towards yourself.

Tell your friends how much you value their friendship and spend lots of quality time together or tell them you miss them (as they’ll know you really mean it).

Embrace making more fantastic friendships that will last a lifetime and enrich your lives and theirs.

Because at the end of the day, its friends like these, that love us unconditionally and for our unique selves, that we will always cherish and never regret knowing. I reckon these guys some it up pretty well…

Lots of love,

Sunny Kitty