A friend is a person with whom I maybe sincere. Before him, I may think aloud.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ok , on this series of blogs, I am supposed to start, write, title, add a pic and post within 30 minutes. That hasn’t really been happening. I tend to search for quotes for way too long, then write well beyond the thirty minutes and then search for a picture etc. So my dear friend Delta gave me two quotes and I am now listening to the click of my wind up kitchen timer. Delta says that I get caught up in my head and get obsessed, very much like my dog is obsessed with the new kitten at Delta’s house. So my dear friend kindly searched for quotes for me. I promised not to look at them until I was ready to write. So here is the first one and tomorrow I will write about the other–not entirely as spontaneously as planned because I admit I did read them both and picked the second one to start with today.
This concept of the meaning of a friend is pretty fascinating. What is it about a true friend that allows us to feel so at ease that we can speak our thoughts aloud and feel so safe that we will not suffer any repercussions. With whom in our circle of friends is that true? and for anyone in that circle that doesn’t invite that level of sincerity, why do we consider them within that circle?
Michael Chekhov encourages us to make friends with anything that could intimidate us, could block our expression of our highest self. He says we can make friends with objects, places, ideas. When we consciously commit to befriending someone or something, it creates an inward shift of possibility.
It stimulates an easing of judgement and fear. It comforts inwardly. Friends support you, guide you, nudge you, pull back on track, give tough love and generous love, companionship and share wisdom. They laugh with you at you, and invite you to do the same for and with them.
Every person in our lives has the ability to add value to you, to be neutral to you, or to subtract from you. Which of these three they offer is completely dependent upon you. What do you expect to give to them? What do you expect to receive from them? From your experiences with them? How do you reflect upon these encounters and where do you choose growth in this reflection?
The value of being able to be sincere may not even be understood at times. It is quite possible that our personalities are so accustomed to accommodating, to projecting what in our perspective is what is wanted from us, that we may not actually know what we sincerely think, feel or want to do. This suggests that the first person we might friend is ourselves. Are you your own friend? Would you hang out with yourself if you treated yourself the way you treat yourself? How friendly are you when you look in the mirror? or at your to do list? Or at your credit card bill?
Why can your friends expect to sincerely be treated well if you don’t befriend you first? What are your expectations of yourself and do they support you, add value to you, give you tough love and all of the other things a great friend does?
If your brain were truly your friend, what about the way it operates would you be grateful for? What would you sincerely appreciate and give thanks for if your body were your friend?
Send me some quotes to write about my friends!
