INTRO

Introductions:
My Name is Matthew, and I am a soldier. I have an interesting view that I share from time to time with the folks I encounter as I walk the road. Some of those people have encouraged me to seek out ways to help others or simply share my views or ideas with more people. I will blog on many subjects, from things that piss me off on a daily basis to more important issues such as dealing with chronic depression and the struggles that ensue as a result. I will be taking bits and pieces from emails and rants that I have verbalized as well, so if you see something we have talked about please, smile and nod...Thanks for reading.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

FRIENDS


         I would like to take a moment to say some words about friends. Friends are people in your life whom you chose to spend time around. Family are the ones you were forced to spend time around. Friends are the people you tell your secrets to because they have earned that trust. Friends are people who will have your back, not just talk about it. There have been many songs written about friends. There was even a TV show titled "FRIENDS". We in society have lost the meaning of the word though. Social media has virtually disintegrated the word. Friends are not people who know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who you went to school with when you were five years old. Friends are not the guy who is friends with your uncle on your Father's side. Friends are people who you hang out with, socialize with, and trust.

      As in the post about Vitality, the English language is on the chopping block with this one. I'm sorry to beat that dead horse but I promise this time, the whip is short. If I have met you, shook your hand, looked you in the eye and called you Brother, or "friend". If I have spent so much time hanging out with you that I have come up with a nick name for you and asked to be sure it was okay that I call you by it you can be sure that we are friends. If not, don't pretend that you are some long lost pal from high school so your social media site can offer you virtual farm equipment. Simple enough isn't it? Those of you out there who are Family, some of you are friends. Some of you fill many roles. Some people in my life are like my Brother, my Father, my friend and my mentor all in one. Some people out there take for granted what it means to be friends. They don't appreciate what it means when someone trusts you enough to call you friend. In today's day and age, it's a crying shame that we call people "friend" whom we have no intention of ever meeting again. I am all for networking, don't get that twisted up. We need to say what we mean and mean what we say.

        I don't mind making new friends either. I'm okay with that. Some of you bloggers out there are really cool people. Please don't let this post piss you off to the point where you don't want to read my blog anymore. I like to be heard and to be truthful, I love responding to comments. I enjoy reading the feedback. I am always open to new ideas. So, thanks for reading!

6 comments:

  1. 'Round here we call that 'sloppin' sugar' ... when people you don't even know are calling you "sweetie, honey, dear ...".

    New follower from the #AtoZChallenge.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a new one, never heard of that before. Thanks for the post, I greatly appreciate it !

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am trying to teach this very concept to my granddaughter, who thinks everyone she meets is a friend! Her goal is to try to have more friends (on Facebook) than anyone she knows. I sat with her the other evening and we went through her friend list and talked about each person. If she couldn't tell me something about someone then we deleted that person. At the end she said, "gee granny I don't have as many friends as I thought I had. But I sure know a lot of people." Slowly I hope to get through to her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had, in a past marriage, a teenage step daughter. I marveled at how a young woman could claim to have 150 "friends". It takes patience with this up and coming generation. THERE IS HOPE ! Thank you for the comment and God Bless.

      Delete
  4. It sure is funny how much you get to know some people you meet online. Not all of them can be considered friends, but over time, relationships sure have the potential to develop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the comment. Of course that is possible. You may also get to know someone you are supposed to know already just a little bit better. *Wink*

      Delete