Friendship 👭👫

Friendship is a special bond, second only to romantic love.

We are more than just outer appearances, we are the sum total of the values we hold dear, the experiences of our lives, the knowledge and wisdom we gained, the moments of joys and hardships we've lived through, the books we read, the people we know. All in all we are treasures. Tangible treasures are kept in vaults at the bank, and only the owner, and whom the owner trusts has the key to the vault.

Who we are, are like non tangible treasures, but still we choose to share it with people we call friends, in hopes that they'll guard it and appreciate it.

I take my friendships very seriously, and cherish dedication and loyalty, offering it, and expecting it in return. I have been friends with people for decades: haven't seen some of them for decades too, but we keep in touch, remaining close friends.

If you can imagine a room filled with precious jewels (kinda like in the Aladdin movie), that is how the jewels are that represent our lives that we offer to others, those who we think are worthy of our friendship.

Now imagine that the room is contained behind a huge door. Most people are just passersby, the get to see the façade of the door, but don't get to see the content of the room, some called acquaintances get a little peek at the content, but friends get to enter the room.

We choose very carefully to whom we offer our friendship. Those people are seen as worthy of it, similar to us in many ways, they have similar convictions, values, level of dedication to noble causes, intellect, temperament, and are perceived as loyal.

But sometimes those impressions are misleading, and the fact, that we offered our trust to someone who took it for granted is very hurtful. VERY. HURTFUL.

Instead of treating the access to the treasure room of who we are with honor and respect, they trample on our offering, leaving it shattered and our trust destroyed.

There is nothing else left, but to repossess from them the key to that door, and lock it up, with feelings of betrayal and disappointment.

I had to do that recently. Still feeling sad and disappointed by it. :'(