Are labels really important? We use labels to have the glimpse of clarity. It's like going to grocery stores and finding a specific item, we look for the label Dairy, Drinks or Breads to easily locate it. When we store items at home, especially in the kitchen, we use labels for us to easily identify sugar from salt, flour from baking soda.
Even in romantic relationships, we use the terms single, married, in a relationship, etc. for us to be clear on how we view the relationship, if we're on the same page.
But does it really matter? Is that a big deal?
My friends and I were having lunch when one mentioned my students. Melody, my friend, who's also a teacher, noticed something between our two active students, Mi and Ann (not their real name). She said that Mi was hurt because she always claim that Ann is her best friend for 4 years and it's just recently when Ann told her that she only sees her as a classmate. Well, that pretty much hurt Mi. For those who take labels seriously, it must've hurt so bad.
That's the time when my other friend shared her sad story.
She had a friend in high school who convinced her to take Education as her course in college even though she really likes Accountancy. That friend cried in front of her to convince her to take Education so they can be together in college. My friend, who has a soft heart and pure soul, agreed. They went through thick and thin during their college days.
It was their fourth year in college when her friend admitted that she didn't see her as her best friend, only an acquaintance. It broke my friend's heart. She had given up something important in order to accompany her so-called bestfriend and yet, she's just an acquaintance to her.
Heartbroken, she distanced herself from her so-called bestfriend and promised herself not to give labels when it comes to relationships, like friendship.
Looking back, I think I have never used the term best friend to associate my friends. I don't like the idea of ranking them who's the best because I have a lot of circle.
For me, they're all the best. The others were there for me when I was struggling when it comes to studies, the others were there when I was wasted after a full night's party, and the others were there for other reasons but all of them were there, in different seasons, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish (lol, it sounds like a vow already 🤣)
I also find it hard to put the label 'best friend' for I don't like the idea of my friends being jealous to the one who'll wear the crown. They are all special to me.
But it was nice to wear the title, to be called the best friend. It's like you're the best among the rest of friends, the one who went an extra mile, who did beyond what's expected of you.
What did I learn from these experiences, well, it's the truth about taking labels seriously. If we are to put labels, on things, in relationships, make sure that we are also ready once the time came when we need to take them off.
Talking about labels...
How about you? Have you experienced the same?
Do you also label someone as your 'best friend'?
How important label is for you?
I'd appreciate it if you'd leave your answers in the comment section ❤️
Thanks for dropping by! 😊
February 10, 2022 | 8:38 pm
Ohh, that's very sad! If that happens to me, I'd be mad at her and myself. I gave up something because of a pseudobestie. I can't imagine the pain it brought to her. Even a cold treatment is enough to make as wary, how much more na ganyan na ginawa, diba?
I have three best friends. I'm not sure the last one considered me one, but we know each other's secrets even the other two didn't know. We've known each other since bubwit days. Hehe, long story short, naging partners in crime kami tatlo. hehe But the rest of my classmates, I considered them as my closest friends, like brothers and sisters to me. Kasi some of them classmate ko pa since kindergarten, some sa elementary. But those na naging classmate ko sa highschool, naging close ko rin naman.
Maybe that's why I'm a bit reserved sa college friends ko. We're 40, and I was able to friend two lang, like yung close. Then sa other block, 40 din, but hindi lalagpas ng 5 naging close ko. Yung iba parang normal classmates like. Sometimes, if we cross each other, there was no interaction at all nga. hehe May naging close ako pero I can't call them my best friends. Yung tatlo lang talaga.