How many friends do you really have???

[FlamingoBlue]

To answer this question I believe that you must first determine your criterea for a friendship. So, how do you define the true nature of a friendship?

Several years ago I was in the deepest throes of depression and looked to a person that I thought was my friend to listen to my feelings. I had known him for 25 years, but it turned out that I never really knew him at all.

When I told him about my experiences with sadness and dispair he told me about his recent trip to Thailand and his new boat. After listening to him talk about himself for 10 minutes I got up from the table and told him that I no longer wanted to spend any time with him. That's all the time I needed to find out that this person wasn't a real friend. And I haven't spoken to him since.

They say that to have a friend you must be a friend. To me that means that you must be willing to give of yourself without any expectation of a quid pro quo. When you make the call for help at 3 a.m. you know that your friend will be there. It's axiomatic because that is the nature of friendship.

So, how many friends do you really have?? I have 5 and I consider myself to be very fortunate.

blue

 

[lavender]

 

[SinfulOne]

I have three TRUE friends and I am very fortunate to have them in my life.

 

[Ksss]

I have 4. People who have shared their sorrows, their happiness and everything inbetween. We have laughed and cried together, comforted each other when needed and given space when needed. Our children have grownup together and we have watched each other grow into what I consider very warm, caring, sensitive individuals who are not afraid to speak up and stand proud for what we believe in.

 

[Desert Amazon]

 

[Simply Me]

I have many good friends, most of which are my co-workers. I have about 7 people in my life that I would consider my best friends, those that accept me for who I am, stand behind me, encourage me, and love me even when I am at my worst..

But my best friend would have to be Dragon, he is my soulmate.
I often wondered if there was truly one person in the world who was brought here just for me, and I know now there is. I am truly blessed with wonderful people in my life..

 

[OUTSIDER]

I have a number of friend but only one that I feel I could call at 2am in the morning to hear my woe's and wouldn't just tell me to "Fuck off and go back to bed".

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I have about 20 friends I would bleed for, go to an emergency room at 2am for, watch pets for and basically do anything for, and they for I. We're a close circle. Of that 20 I'd say 4 are people I will know until the day I die.

 

[PacificBlue]

This is a good question and one I've had to come to terms with over the past few months. Nothing and I mean nothing, in my opinion, brings out the true colors of the people around you that you call "friends" when your life is in turmoil. I've never been one to develop close knit friendships and that discourages me to no end, as I feel I have an endless amount of love to share. I asked someone I had known for quite sometime about this a couple years back and the response I got was that I'm "too nice" "too genuine" and it makes people uneasy. What are you supposed to do with an answer like that? Start acting like a bitch? LOL

My answer to your question is zero, I don't feel I have people in my life right now that I can call on 24/7 if I really needed them. Case in point...I called a "friend" two weeks ago, I'm still waiting for a return phone call. I was thinking about this very thing over the weekend...if I fell down the stairs in my house, it would be a good 24 hours at least before someone noticed and those "someones" would be my parents, not friends. This is probably a good indication as to why I've been spending some time on the internet as of late, I've just been starved for communication.

PacificBlue

 

[Mistress]

I have a zillion acquaintances, people that I know and talk to, but only a few (That I could count on both hands) true friends.

 

[teresafannin]

I have learned since losing my son that I have about 6 forever friends. I have lots of friends & acquaintences, but these 6 are the ones that have been there for me through all of the trauma, sleepless nights & long days that I have gone through.

 

[stargazer76]

Wow, tough question....

I have two forever friends, not including my husband, who I figure is a no-brainer. They've seen me through just about everything without question or score-keeping. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

 

[nasty]

PC

This is a good question and one I've had to come to terms with over the past few months. Nothing and I mean nothing, in my opinion, brings out the true colors of the people around you that you call "friends" when your life is in turmoil. I've never been one to develop close knit friendships and that discourages me to no end, as I feel I have an endless amount of love to share. I asked someone I had known for quite sometime about this a couple years back and the response I got was that I'm "too nice" "too genuine" and it makes people uneasy. What are you supposed to do with an answer like that? Start acting like a bitch? LOL

My answer to your question is zero, I don't feel I have people in my life right now that I can call on 24/7 if I really needed them. Case in point...I called a "friend" two weeks ago, I'm still waiting for a return phone call. I was thinking about this very thing over the weekend...if I fell down the stairs in my house, it would be a good 24 hours at least before someone noticed and those "someones" would be my parents, not friends. This is probably a good indication as to why I've been spending some time on the internet as of late, I've just been starved for communication.

PacificBlue

I'll be your friend. I know exactly how you feel. It's hard for me to make friends because I'f had a disability since I was born. Consequently, I didn't feel comfortable around people in High School, or even college, because more than half of them were vicious to others. THey treated me like one of their own, though. Makes me wonder how many of them talked behind my back.

 

[White_Tigress_]

I thought I had quite a few...but 2 yrs ago when I moved out of state, is when I found out I really didn't have a one. Every one of them was pissed that I moved away from my daughters father. They knew the reason (to long to post on here and you may not want to hear it anyhow) but yet they were so against me. I haven't talked to any since then.
Now that Im in a new state, I haven't met any that I feel I can consider a 'real' friend. Sure I have friends, but not any that I can trust.
(all that is referring to regular aquaintances, not family)
It is amazing how people can stab you in the back spur of the moment. Now I am very selective who I would hold dear to my heart.

I will add however, that I do have 1 dear friend, my best friend, and would die for....is my husband.
He was my angel when I didn't know it, he listened and helped through my hard times, made me healthy again (I lost 65 lbs quickly), made me laugh, and always , i mean always, was there when I needed him!!!