Friends

[Wayne Goodwin]

“Friends tell each other the truth, and then friends stick around for the aftermath”

Is That True ?

A friend comes to you about something . Maybe like getting married to a Guy . She asked you to be truthful to her if she should marry that man or not . You tell her the truth as you see it .

Or Do They Become Distant too You For Saying How You Feel ?

[Lifesighs]

If they ask they get an honest answer, otherwise I don't give my opinion. If someone chooses to be distant because they didn't like the answer that's ok with me. I would probably ask 20 or 30 questions first before I gave my opinion.

The questions I would ask would be does this person add to your life or subtract from it?

Do you feel like he/she encourages you to try new things or discourage you and says you can't do that?

Does he/she get angry a lot or hot tempered?

etc.

[Karin M Fichtner]

My oldest and dearest friend is the most straightforward person I've ever known. She and I can tell each other anything. We sometimes disagree about things....sometimes vehemently.....but we respect each other's viewpoints and perspective. She married a man several years ago that turned out to be a disaster. If she had asked for my opinion beforehand.....I would've told her I thought she was making a mistake. But she didn't ask. And the last time I got married, she had her doubts....but kept her thoughts to herself, as I never asked for her opinion. Maybe that's why neither of us asked; maybe we didn't want to hear the answers. We know we aren't going to sugar-coat it. Her son is a junkie waste case who abuses her love and takes advantage of her to the point of ruining her retirement. She knows how I feel. I don't mince words. She doesn't get angry with me, though; she knows I'm right.

[crestofwaves]

A REAL friend stays.  An acquatiance doesn't.  I would be honest with a real friend.  I would hold my tongue to keep peace with an acquaintance or a colleague with whom I had to continue working or a relative such as an in-law.  I have only a few REAL friends.

[blithe spirit]

A close friend, years ago,  gave this to me written on a small plaque...always like the explanation of friendship it expressed.

A friend is one
To whom one may pour out all
The contents of one's heart
Chaff and grain, together,
Knowing that the gentlest of hands
Will take and sift it,
Keep what's worth keeping
And with the gentlest breath,  blow the rest away.

[crestofwaves]

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