Distant Friends

Have you ever felt like it's difficult to make friends? I do admit I suffer from this affliction as I appear to be hostile and cold on the outside. However, just like the M&M advertisement, I do melt pretty easily on the inside. Once people get to know me, they will find another side of me. The great big problem is how to get past the first step. This step is always the hardest and also the most necessary. Just as much as I would like to make more friends, it is just as hard for me to open up. One reason could be I'm more of an introvert kind of person. I go green with envy at those people who effortlessly go up to strangers and have a conversation with them. There's a place in my heart where I hope to emulate them and be as outgoing. It's omething I'm trying desparately to change even though I know it's not going to be easy. This happens to be part 1 of my entry. Part 2 is probably more important...

Friends are people who you know to certain extents. These extents determine what kind of friend he or she is to you. One group of people who almost always end up as your friends is your classmates. They are the people who you see every day in school. In other words, they could be the group who spend the most time with you. (maybe apart from your family) Friendships would have been established quickly as they share weal and woe with you. They are the support when you feel like giving up; they will be there at the finish line cheering you on; they are the the ones who eat lunch with you at the canteen; they are the ones who you find to have fun with...the list goes on and on. Everyone has positive memories about their classmates. This is also the time when the bonds are the tightest. The problem only comes when everyone graduates. This is the most crucial time in my opinion. If contact is lost at this point, the bridge will fall no matter how stable the foundation was. It breaks my heart that something so special can be easily defeated by a lapse of concentration from both parties. Although it is saddening, it happens more often than I wish. It takes 2 hands to clap and so it does. People deal with graduations differently. Some find it the end of an old life while some treat it like the prologue of a book. Effort is needed to maintain contact with peopl who you care for as well as people who care. Even if it is one-sided, have faith that it can change and be satisfied that at least you have done your part to keep the flame burning.

I have experienced my fair share of disapointments. While I'm no expert at keeping contact, I have resolved to change this. The first step in doing so is to recognize that there's a problem. What comes after that is courage, will and determination. Nil Sine Labore.

Till next time, please give me your support so that I can change for the better. Honesty is the best policy and friends should not lie just because the truth may hurt. The intention to really help is what a true friend should do. :)