what is a friend?

Question

if you say "someone that's there for you no matter what"... then i doubt i have one.

Answer 1

That's a little sad, and I'm sorry really. There are several different types of friends. Some are for partying, some are to call upon in times of need, and there are some that are there just because they are more like family. You find out who is that no matter what kind of friend when you least suspect it. That person for me is my husband and surprisingly my supervisor at a recent job. When I needed a shoulder to cry on she was there. If I needed someone to speak to she was there no matter what, and it did nothing to interfer with our relationship as supervisor/employee. I had to quite that job temporarily because of a faimly illness, but she has called a few times to check on me and see how everything was going. Her father has heart problems himself, and she understands how hard it is because she has seen the stress it places on her mother. I also recently learned she placed me on automatic rehire when I am in a position where I can go back, and also listed my husband as hirable also. It wasn't just for company reasons, it was out of kindness of her heart and that made her a friend for me even though our political and religious calues are completely different. Also if you need a friend just somone to speak with, I'm definately here for you, because I understand how hard it is sometimes to deal with situations on your own and just having someone who is willing to listen is more important as the one who says I'll be by in a few hours and the never show. You can e-mail me and don't feel so down because you're not the only one out there who has this problem,luv.

Answer 2

I answerd a question a little while ago about what friendship is. A friend, not a fair wheather or faux friend but a 'true friend, is someone who displays these qualities.

The answer was...

This is a question that I have pondered over for many years now. There is one concept that I keep on coming back to explain friendship, that is that it is a form of love. Not romantic love as this requires the two to be in a close personal relationship but rather a much simplified form of the bond that is shared by those said to be "in love".

Those that are "in love", as far a neurochemistry and neurophysiology is concerned, have strong temporary pathways in the brain that activate the pleasure centres of the brain when a particular stimulus is presented, that being the other person in the relationship. This helps to solidify the bond and prepare the couple for raising any children as it helps to create a stable home environment, however this reaction is short lived and lasts only a few months to a couple of years. During this time the brain also builds permanent pathways that again get used to activate the pleasure centres of the brain, however the effect is much lower, more like a feeling of calm and peace when that person is around then physical pleasure. It is this second form of pathway that is what 'true' friendship is.

When we see someone regularly, or make regular contact with someone for some time we feel better in their presence. We feel calmer and more stable, more able to handle the world. We also have a greater feeling towards this persons emotional wellbeing, what they experience we experience by-proxy so we would never wish to do them harm. This is because the brain builds pathways, just like those how are in love and have been in a relationship for years. While the start, the beginning is very different the result is the same, we grow to need to be around or in contact with the friend, and when we are we are calmer and more centred because we are around our friend.

This explains why people who have been together in a relationship for many years (and who wish to be together)speak of their friendship, and also why people who have been friends for many years have the strength of feeling for one another like those in a relationship. And while these pathways may take as little as two weeks to form, they take years to solidify which also goes to explain why people can easily fall out of a friendship in its early stages but have great difficulty after several years and why those that do fall out after many years feel as if they have been betrayed by someone extremely close.

I hope that I have explained myself well enough.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

There are two essential ingredients for friendship between two persons...... comfort and complementarity.

Comfort level should be very high in interactions.... it begins with matching waves and compatibility, but builds up with trust and understanding.

Complementarity is also essential since each should feel the need for the other.... one-way traffic eventually becomes burdensome and hence does not last for long. It is complementarity that brings a sense of fulfillment between the friends.

Now compatibility and complementarity are two opposing attributes.... and indeed the presence of these two opposing attributes gives proper balance to the friendship for it to flourish and become a lasting relationship.

Finally, ego and expectations are the two enemies of friendship..... most often one of these or both cause the breaking away of a well developed friendship...... ego attacks the comfort level and expectations stress the feeling of effective complementarity.

Answer 4

There are different levels of friendship. I have many friends, but only one that has been there in good times and bad for over 35 years. Some people have experienced a lot of heartache in their lives of one form or another. When you go through emotional issues they might not be able to handle being there in your corner, doesn't make them any less a friend in my opinion though.

Answer 5

I asked myself this one recently. I can tell you that very few that you call friend are actually one. Those people are there for a time, a season, a need or want in that space of existince. It can be a friend for a weekend or a friend for a lifetime. Here's something you can ask yourself though about the people around you if they are friends. If you had nothing to offer, nothing to be used for would they still stick by your side if you needed them?

Answer 6

Its someone that you dont have to think about whether you are their friend or not...you just know you love each other and can trust them with anything.....and you ALWAYS have one because even if you don't feel that you have any true friends in life you always have God..he's always there for you.

Answer 7

My true friends aren't cliche. Sometimes they're brutally honest. Sometimes I know they're holding back to safe face. Sometimes they listen when I need them most, but they're human, which means that sometimes when I need them, they're caught up in their own lives and can't focus on my issues. If they're not 100% ALL ABOUT ME, then why do I still all them my friends? We click. It works.

Answer 8

A friend to me is someone you can talk to about anything and is not offended.

A friend is someone who will apologize to you, and do everything to save the friendship.

A friend is someone who won't judge you or leave you if you make a mistake.

Answer 9

Who comes with u life long.....