Friendship Palava

My Introduction

It's easy to make friends, but maintaining those friendships is usually the big deal now. I say this because friends come from different homes, different characters, perspectives, likes and dislikes, and values.

Lets look into some barrier that affect maintaining an healthy friendship and advices that can help.

Do you think it's wise to have just one best friend like someone has one wife? Explain

I don't fully accept that opinion, because marriage is a legal commitment between only two people, but friendship is different. It isn't wise to compare the two.

In marriage, most things couples do are exclusive to their spouse. Married people are not expected to kiss another person passionately or lust over another person sexually. But friendship allows flexibility because there's no law saying that it is wrong if your best friend has another best friend 😃

Someone may choose to have one best friend because he understands that person deeply. Another person may choose two or more best friends. Personally, I don't buy the opinion of having one best friend. But having a small circle of best friends can help during times like this, the main thing here is being available. Also, growth usually comes when you have many advisers, and you get to understand people from different backgrounds.

If you have a best friend and your best friend has another friend whom he/she spends most of the time with, will you be jealous and discontinue? Explain

Feeling jealous is natural as humans, but we should not let it control us. Being Jealous about your best friend spending most of their time with another friend shows that you both have a healthy relationship. So imagine you quitting that kind of relationship you've built for months or even years because of jealousy; that sounds childish.

Always remember these facts:

• Your best friend is not your property that can't be owned by another person😃 Just like you have other people around, your best friend has the liberty to have friends too.

• If you quit your friendship with someone out of jealousy alone, you'll regret it. You've missed a healthy relationship.

• More friends can strengthen your relationship bonds. Instead of feeling abandoned or not valued, get close to know this friend of your best friend. If the person is good, you can be friends too, adding to your circle of friends.

Should a married man or woman end their friendships with people of the opposite sex after marriage? Give reasons for your answer

I strongly say no. It doesn't sound right to cut off every opposite sex friend just because you're married now. Instead, boundaries should be drawn now that the person is married. To continue a healthy relationship with your friend when you're married, there are things to avoid. Those boundaries: No secret chats, late nights outings, flirting and other things that should be exclusive to your spouse only.

A mature spouse should understand this, because you are married now doesn't mean ending relationship with opposite sex friends. With transparency and honesty from both spouses about their friends, there's no problem with that.

Will you end a friendship if your friend keeps on making mistakes or doing things you don't like?

It depends on what mistake my friend made. No one is above mistakes, so if the mistake is not serious, I'll have to talk to them above what they did that hurt me, even if it doesn't affect me directly, after all true friends correct each other. But if the mistake is serious; like betrayal, or something that may risk my safety, ending the friendship is the best thing to do. My friend and I are not perfect, so I won't end our friendship because of our little misunderstanding or mistakes. Although I might pardon my friend but, I won't stay where I'm always disrespected or hear words or actions that don't build me up.

What Is your advice to people with many friends?

My advice is: despite all their differences, stick to true friends no matter their flaws, but please not when it comes to life threatening situations. Correct them in a loving manner. If they react wrongly for being corrected, stay calm. True friends will always find their way back to your company.

My Conclusion

In all, friendship is an expression of love, understanding, boundaries and correction. True friends are not perfect people, but people who stay and grow together despite their differences.

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I place my invite to: @mjeelifestyle @sana-khan01 @emishael60 to join this contest

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All photos on this article are taken by me

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Cc: @steem4nigeria

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