it's friendship.

that's right. today's topic is friendship and i actually have some positive and negative things to say.

first off, i just wanna state some friendship facts i believe in:

1. texting does not make a friendship.
2. a friendship is best built upon mutual effort.
3. friends are necessary.

these three things are what we will address in today's blog post. i would also like to add that this is the perfect post to comment on and begin discussion. friendship is very different for each person so feedback would make for wonderful conversation, i'm sure.

anyway, we will begin with the first topic in that texting does not make a friendship. this is simple to understand and but not quite as easy to follow for some people. i admit i have trouble following it sometimes. there are exceptions. for example, a very dear friend of mine lives in the far away land of Wisconsin and works at a summer camp. therefore, i am forced to text her because all other lines of communication are not readily available.

we must also address a point which has come up in my life multiple times already this summer. "i don't text people first." this little excuse both saddens me and angers me. i don't know about you but if i think of someone and i want to know how they're doing, i generally do not hesitate in sending a text message. granted there are times i am currently busy and cannot text but i do my best to remember later. what angers me about it is the fact that a person can go for months and probably have someone in mind but because of their "texting first" policy, they refrain from a mere "hey" or "hello, i was just thinking about you and wanted to see how you were doing." heaven forbid you think about someone and care to talk to them. another interesting thing, those people that have given me that excuse in particular have other friends who they do text first. selective first texting. it is a friendship destroyer.

my second point is also pretty generally understood but rarely witnessed. when a person strives and strives to make plans so that another person enjoys themselves is great. but when that one person is the only one making that kind of effort, where is the friendship? where is the fairness? it disappears. soon, the one friend is merely riding the coat tails of planing creativity and reaping the benefits while the other person is being trampled. that other person will continue on making plans, for sure. why? because they want to see the other person and care to see the other person. eventually though, they give up. another destroyer of friendship.

lastly, i wanna make it clear how important it is to have friends. and good ones, too. the ones that follow points one and two. a text from someone who hasn't said "hello" in awhile or an offer for coffee can make someone's day. without friends the fun sort of disappears in life. and (this is a bit extreme) without friends, who would come to your funeral? ;]

i'll admit i have neglected some of my friends at some point or another. and i regret the times i decided not to ask how they were or what they were up to. it is not a great feeling to have.

as a last note, remember this: do what you can for your friends. someday they will repay the favor. you'll never forget it.

talk to you soon, everyone. go text a friend.