I know a lot of people living in Nigeria or even frequent on Twitter would have an idea which direction I am going with this post. It's too juicy and recent that I can't help but dive into it and explore with more expansion on the topic.
Your circle of friends matter a lot because it would determine how quickly you will get up or sink when a situation happens. We cannot choose our family members but thank God we can choose our friends and the kind of friend you choose will eventually rub off on you whether you like it or not. You might not see it now but eventually, you will.
Two things have the tendency of bringing out the best or the worst in us - the kind of friends you keep and the ability to read or not read books. The kind of books you read would eventually affect you just like the kind of friends you keep. If all you do is read a book of crime, you start anticipating a lot of crimes and they start playing in your head even when the situation is not as daring as you think it is. When the only tool you have is a hammer then every problem would look to you as though they require a nail even if all that is needed is just to turn the switch.
That's why most people cannot differentiate between reality and fantasy because that's the only thing they have exposed themselves to and when they meet contrasting situations, they break down. Who are your friends? Who are those in your circle of influence? They would determine the direction of your life. If you have laid back friends, they would always drag you back no matter how much speed you want to gather. Whoever wants to move fast must travel light and some friends are baggage to your journey, so ditch them and don't apologize for it because this is your life - you only have one.
I spoke last year with my brother when he wanted to drop his new hit singles that I helped him in writing the lyrics. He needed extra money and he texted a few of his friends and only two people responded - one person gave money and the other one gave a promissory word. He said and I quote, "Olawale, I don't have friends" and in a way, he blamed himself for it and it dawned on me too. You need those who can quickly drag you out of a hole because life happens but in as much as you desire to have such friends make sure you are also that kind of friend because some people won't forget how you've helped them even if most forget.
Davido; a Nigerian artist and superstar tweeted yesterday that he needed 100,000,000 naira ($180,000) for his birthday celebration and within the space of an hour, he got a whopping 133,000,000 naira ($240,000) and still counting. Of course, some people are seeing it from a different perspective but I am not. He isn't asking because he is broke, far from it and he just opened that account for that particular purpose so everyone can track the progress of the fund.
I don't know if this has any bearing with the Obi Cubana's mother's burial where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had to go and burst him to explain the source of his wealth to have lavished that much on his mother's burial but I believe they know Davido's source of wealth already but you can't be too sure with our government. I guess Davido decided to let everyone see where the money he would be spending is coming from. Whatever logic behind his action, my take away from it is that you have to surround yourself with people who would readily bail you out of any kind of situation - that's what friends are for.
There was this interview he had earlier in the year with Ebuka where he spoke glowingly about how passionate he is when it comes to helping others. He said he has helped a lot of people that he can never go down. He further said that the moment he wants to start going down they would really round to lift him up and now, it makes so much sense as it is evident for all to see now - especially how family, friends and even rivals came around to show support to him.
We all want to have the best of friends but are you showing yourself friendly too? We all want people to support us but what are you also doing for others? Are you supporting others too? This life is about sowing and reaping. Sometimes you reap and sometimes you don't but the good thing is you might not reap from where you sowed but life has its way of paying you back for your good investment.
Help others in as much as you want to be helped. Be friends with others as much as you want to have friends. Be good to others in as much as you want people to be good to you. Surround yourself with good people. It's not just about party freaks but people with dreams, goals, ambitions, zeal and determination. It's not all about money but you also need those who can encourage you when you are back to a corner and depression wants to set it.
A lot of people go through a lot and it's hard to know those who are in your corner until the situation calls for it. Adversity reveals true human nature. You won't know the snake has been lining up with the woods until you stoke it with the fire and with fire you see the snake within the sticks. You will know those who care for you, not when the going is good but when there is a speed bump on your way. A lot of people claim to be your friend only when things are good but that's not a true measure of friendship because, at that time, anyone can claim to be your friend.
I ask again, who are your friends?
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I spent last year deleting certain people from my life because I was trying to be intentional about who my friends were.
Friendship is very important in life and picking the right friends could break or make a lot of things.
Also most times we want good friends but forget to be good friends.