OMM+Personal+Responses

On this page we will copy and paste our personal responses in an effort to share them in a paper free manner. If you choose to respond to any of the posted essays, you may earn up to 10 extra credit points. Please be sure that your posted essay or response has your name attached so that you can receive credit!

=** Personal Response 1: What is friendship? How does it differ person to person? What does it take for someone to become your friend? How do you know when a friendship is over? **=

What is friendship? As a 33 year-old woman, you might think that I have this in the bag; that I have it down to a science and keep friends easily. But the truth is, I don't. Sure, I have a couple of close friends, but aside from my sister, no one that I can call up on a moment's notice to vent about my day, watch my kids, or hang out with. The truth about friendship to me is that is is really difficult find true friends. When the going gets tough, or life changes, friends will leave for greener pastures. (But maybe that's just my experience.) The only true friend I have ever had is in fact, my husband. When the going gets tough, he's always there. I can be moody and demanding and blunt and many other things, but he is the only person who has ever looked past that, or put me in my place. Friendship differs from person to person in many ways. I think we each have our own expectations of what friendship is. I have seen lots of friends come and go, so to me, friends are those that I can hang out with on a Saturday night, and am lucky to see every two months. They are the ones that I can debate with, or just hang out with. They are not my "best friends", but people that I like being around. For others, they need that one best friend, or they accept people who don't meet their standards of living, but are "good enough." That doesn't work for me.
 * //Mrs. Alguire://**

I guess that leads to the next question, "What does it take for someone to become your friend?" At this point in my life, I find it very difficult to be friends with someone whose values are not reflective of mine, but that being said, I try to be as open-minded as possible. I'm not looking for a best friend or someone who will be that go-to person. I have that in my husband. I'm just interested in people that have the same type of personality as me, and like some of the same things. Having kids definitely helps, but they have to at least like mine! LIfe is too busy for me so I need someone who understands that and can hang out with me anyway.

Boy, I have had my fill of ended friendships...Probably most recently was my best friend from high school and college. That was probably the saddest friendship end that I have ever had. She was my go-to person, she got me and accepted me for who I was. But, when life changed, she couldn't handle it. She couldn't have more than one friend at a time. The indicators came years ago, but we were always able to pick up where we left off. It was after I had my daughter, Katelin that things went downhill fast. When no matter how often you contact someone and reach out, they don't reach back, it's over. When they don't get what you have going on in your life, it's over. Whey they don't share the bigs things with you, it's over. When they don't remember your kids' birthdays EVEN THOUGH they were at the hospital when they were born, it's over. It's sad, it's unexpected, but it's part of life. I have learned that there are few people I can truly rely on in my life, and if I remember this, I will never be disappointed in friendships again.