of Friendship and Expectations

As I age, I'm starting to discover a bit more about my likes and dislikes. Recently, I came to an epiphany, that I hold friendship very dearly. I treasure all my friends.

Of course, a definition of a friend is differs from person to person. There's friends, and then there's friends. I know people who are more than acquaintances, but less than a true friend. Mom always did say, that there are 4 windows of openness/transparency.

There's those that we say hi and bye and make small talk. I'd label those as acquaintances. Like a pyramid structure, they form the base as they have the biggest numbers. Many colleagues fall under this category. Or quite aptly named, work mates. The main common ground or topic of conversation revolves around work and all its accompanying evils. Note of interest, is that bitching about work, be it the boss, the clients, or the situations faced, always seems to make time pass faster. Too much though, is a source of negativity, discontentment and de-motivation.

Then there's those that we do hang out with during our private time. This group I'd call friends. The next step up from the base. These people are the ones that you have more conversations about regarding interests outside of work. Some of my friends were upgraded, for lack of a better word, from work mates. And these kind of people are a bit rare, in that it's not often you'd become friends with colleagues.

Next up, are best friends and close friends. People I might not meet often, but every meet up is a gem. They not afraid to criticize you, or give you feedback, both positive and negative. This group of friends you, I'd tend to open up more to. Yes, I've been known to have trust issues. But this bunch of whackos aren't about to betray me, nor stick the knife in my back.

Last, but not least, are friends that inevitably become family. Family, that is non blood related. At the peak of the top, you can definitely expect the number(s) to be small, singular even. Family stick by you at all times, through hell or heaven, and come out a blazing. They'll always have your back, regardless of how idiotic you were.

With all that being said, I treasure every friendship. Not many get promoted beyond the ranks of acquaintances. All those who do though, even if I don't talk to them on a daily basis, i truly treasure them. I'd always try to make time for them, whenever they reach out to me. An eye for an eye. I'd expect the same from them. I suppose, while I get that we both have our own lives, I don't expect to be dropped like a hot poker the moment someone new comes along.

Here's when we're getting into the gist of the post. Long winded? Quite possibly. I'm a bit sore, seeing how I treat someone as a friend, only to be semi ignored in light of a new romantic interest. Oh I'm not looking to compete in that regard. Hell, I'd even expect to not have that much attention. But to be downright ignored? That's the part I'm upset about. Yes yes, I'm being childish and throwing a tantrum. The point is, you, yes you, made me feel that you only remember me when you need something from me.