How does one find a person
like that and keep their friendship alive? Perhaps you have a spouse or family
member who qualifies as a true friend, that’s a double blessing. Usually for women it’s most likely a girl friend
and not your spouse who has those empathetic qualities. Although, I know there
are sensitive men who could qualify. A son of mine has a kind heart for anyone
be it: parent, spouse, child or neighbor. He is a compassionate listener and genuinely
cares about what you are feeling.
Advice giving is not needed, but validation is. Sending value to the other person by listening
carefully, commenting sensitively and having empathy. I can imagine how that
feels, etc. Be the type of friend to the
other person that you want to have. Being an only child, I’ve never had a close
sibling to be my friend, although I’ve had girl friends that feel like sisters.
Family should be there to
help one another, to believe in one another but sometimes relatives are too close and
misunderstandings do happen. Then it’s helpful to have that close friend to
call, email or visit with to get centered (at peace) again. Someone you know
cares deeply about your welfare and takes time to listen. If you have a friend
who only talks about their problems and never listens to you, that can be
draining. Perhaps you need to move on and find another person who will be a true
friend in every sense of that term.
NEXT TIME-Male-Female Differences
I really never had a good close friend except 9 years ago the only person I really called my good firend got married and ended uo moving far away (India). I miss her and we still talk on the phone, emails and facebook, but our friendship changed after she married.
ReplyDeleteI tell my daughter this and I am lucky to have one long-time good friend with a long shared history..
ReplyDeleteSounds just like you to me. That is the kind of friend you have always been to me. I love you, Lin Floyd!!
ReplyDeleteYou are that kind of a friend to me, Lin! It's amazing that we have got so close with the whole Antlatic Ocean between you, and a great part of America. Soon we will be home from our mission (less than 6 weeks) and then we can write more often. Love you very much! Hugs from Sweden, Gittan
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely about validation. We crave it. With it, we can see our own errors, too....
ReplyDelete