BY MY SIDE
“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Good morning everyone,
IT IS MAGICAL
The ability to make friends is one of the most magical aspect of human life. It's hard to imagine that some people go through their entire lives without a single person they can truly call a friend. Friendship provides comfort, support, and a sense of belonging, yet the process of forming these bonds is not always simple. For many, making friends can feel like a daunting or even exhausting endeavor, requiring patience, effort, and vulnerability. Still, the rewards of genuine connection often outweigh the challenges, showing just how deeply we long for companionship and understanding.
The beginning of a true, lifelong friendship can be as simple as a smile or as subtle as an almost unnoticed nod to a stranger on the street. The truth is, friendship often starts in the most unexpected places. Yet, while its beginnings may be effortless or even accidental, maintaining a genuine friendship requires conscious effort, care, and commitment. Despite the challenges, it remains one of the most extraordinary and rewarding experiences in the world.
Sometimes, friendships arise out of tragedy, which can make them even more profound and special. In times of hardship, people often find comfort in one another, and these shared experiences can develop close friendship. In other cases, family members themselves can become our closest friends, as the bond between two people may begin from the very moment they enter the world.
The beginning of a true, lifelong friendship can be as simple as a smile or as subtle as an almost unnoticed nod to a stranger on the street. The truth is, friendship often starts in the most unexpected places. Yet, while its beginnings may be effortless or even accidental, maintaining a genuine friendship requires conscious effort, care, and commitment. Despite the challenges, it remains one of the most extraordinary and rewarding experiences in the world.
Sometimes, friendships arise out of tragedy, which can make them even more profound and special. In times of hardship, people often find comfort in one another, and these shared experiences can develop close friendship. In other cases, family members themselves can become our closest friends, as the bond between two people may begin from the very moment they enter the world.
BY MY SIDE
It is evident that my life has been richer with a friend by my side_ a friend I can rely on when things grow difficult, someone I can call to share a secret a dream or a worry that comes and goes. Many times, all I ask for is the quiet presence of someone who will sit beside me in silence as we contemplate life. Other times I long for laughter, for conversation that stretches into the night, or for encouragement when life feels overwhelming.
If I am to be a true friend, I must understand that friendship is not always about me. Reciprocity plays a role, and I need to be willing to give as much as I receive. True friendship is built on honesty, respect and, mutual support and cooperation.
Exploring and appreciating the beauty and complexities of friendship is an art in itself. Having a friend makes me emotionally stronger and better prepared to navigate conflicts and challenges. A friendship should serve as a constant reminder of the joy, value, and meaning that such companionship brings to my live.
If I am to be a true friend, I must understand that friendship is not always about me. Reciprocity plays a role, and I need to be willing to give as much as I receive. True friendship is built on honesty, respect and, mutual support and cooperation.
Exploring and appreciating the beauty and complexities of friendship is an art in itself. Having a friend makes me emotionally stronger and better prepared to navigate conflicts and challenges. A friendship should serve as a constant reminder of the joy, value, and meaning that such companionship brings to my live.
ONE MORE INGREDIENT
Forgiveness is an essential ingredient for sustaining a friendship_ especially when things do not go as planned. Let's not forget about it. Preserving a friendship over many years is a continuous effort, a work in progress that never ends.
Friendship also involves tact, a gentle awareness of when to overlook or soften the impact of a friend’s shortcomings. Being a friend does not mean I abandon honesty, but it does mean I approach my interactions with care, sometimes using a filter to navigate the delicate balance between truth and consideration.
Friendship also involves tact, a gentle awareness of when to overlook or soften the impact of a friend’s shortcomings. Being a friend does not mean I abandon honesty, but it does mean I approach my interactions with care, sometimes using a filter to navigate the delicate balance between truth and consideration.
The poet and physician Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote: Don't flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become. Except, in cases of necessity, which are rare, leave your friend to learn unpleasant things from his enemies; they are ready enough to tell them.
LET'S NARROW IT DOWN
Nevertheless, friendship holds a complex place in everyone's life, and life for its part, unapologetically, present us with a bouquet of situations that may serve us well_ or not. When it comes to choosing friends, I find myself cautious, aware that the people I welcome can shape the direction of my life.
Some of my worst experiences have been handed over to me by people, yet, on the other hand, many of the most wonderful experiences in life have also been made possible by them. This contrast makes it complicated at times to decide whether to open to friendship or to simply let go. People can wound us, but they can also bring joy. That uncertainty is part of the risk of human connection. To narrow it down and gain a general understanding of what friendship is, one can turned to Aristotle's classical view:
Some of my worst experiences have been handed over to me by people, yet, on the other hand, many of the most wonderful experiences in life have also been made possible by them. This contrast makes it complicated at times to decide whether to open to friendship or to simply let go. People can wound us, but they can also bring joy. That uncertainty is part of the risk of human connection. To narrow it down and gain a general understanding of what friendship is, one can turned to Aristotle's classical view:
- Friends by Virtue – friendships built on mutual respect, admiration, and a shared pursuit of goodness. These are the deepest and most enduring connections.
- Friends of Practicality – relationships that arise out of usefulness, mutual benefit, or shared needs. They may not always last, but they serve an important role in certain seasons of life.
- Friends of Gratification – bonds formed for pleasure, enjoyment, or companionship in good times. They bring joy and lightness, though they may not always endure hardship.
TIME WILL TELL
The idea that my friends may be someone else's enemies_ and that my own enemies are, without doubt, another person's friends_ is something I had never consider before. Realizing this opened my eyes to unknown areas. The thought becomes even more unsettling when I imagine that someone out there might see me as an adversary. I'd rather not to think much about it. Perhaps the best way to keep peace of mind is to avoid seeking faults in others or in myself. It is not my job to proved who is who, time will tell.
This piece represents a quiet reminder to fiercely defend, but gently care for my friends. I hope the melody makes you think about yours, the same way it makes me think about mine. Listen carefully to the piece, it is telling you to be gentle and understanding to them. I do wish, when you listen to it, it will make you feel as if, when they come to visit you at four, you begin feeling happy at three.
This piece represents a quiet reminder to fiercely defend, but gently care for my friends. I hope the melody makes you think about yours, the same way it makes me think about mine. Listen carefully to the piece, it is telling you to be gentle and understanding to them. I do wish, when you listen to it, it will make you feel as if, when they come to visit you at four, you begin feeling happy at three.
Thank you for your time.
Music INFORMATION:
- Key: D Major/B Minor
- Parts: Cello and Piano
- Duration: 3:16 min
- Measures: 38
- Pages: 4
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