That's What Friends Are For...

Friends are a funny thing. Everyone has at least one person in their life that they can confide everything in. Some people are lucky enough to have large groups of people in which they can share their intimate details and stories with.

Sometimes friendships turn out badly. There could be a fight, a misunderstanding, or simply lack of trying. Moving away, making new friends, being busy with other aspects of life can all be factors in friendships going sour. The worst way for a friendship to end is "breaking-up." But sometimes, it's the only way to go. Things can build up, issues are not discussed, you begin to overanalyze things said or done, start testing that person's loyalty, try out new friends, or simply just stop calling. Eventually one of you will get fed up enough to end it once and for all. The worst is when it is unexpected. This is the fault of the one who didn't bring it up when things first started to go badly. Often, it's for the best. Eventually you both realize that neither of you were gaining anything from the relationship, and will indeed become better, stronger people on your own.

Friendships, to me, are nothing to be taken lightly. My friends are my family, just as my family members are my friends. I tend to share everything with everyone. Which is probably why I find it so difficult to understand people who prefer to keep everything to themselves. I absolutely have a respect for people who don't go around telling everyone everything, and I have even more respect for people who can truly keep a secret. However I have come across people who will not tell you anything about them unless you drag it out of them to the point where it almost becomes painful.

I am one of those people who like to be kept in the know. I tell my friends seemingly meaningless details about my day because I want them to know that I am not keeping anything from them. I am an open book to the people I love, which is how I like it, because when I need advice or someone who understands, I know that there are people out there who know exactly what it is that I need. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have the people around me that I do. I strive to keep positive, intelligent, mature people around me who actually like me for who I am.

In return, I love my friends for who they are. I adore their quirks, their faults, the little things that separate them from everyone else. I hope I have managed to become a person who can be trusted and confided in. I am definitely equipped with my own personal set of quirks, experiences and faults, but I do not feel that they have held me back in any way. On the contrary, I feel that if I were just like everyone else, I would become boring. Obsolete. A "been there, done that, got the t-shirt" type of person. I am who I am, and people need to accept that. Thankfully, there are people who have, and I love them for it.

Obsessions

There are routines that we all have. Daily, constant obsessions that we must indulge in order to feel normal. A sort of OCD for the everyman. Everywoman. Everyone, I suppose. Perhaps a need to be politically correct all the time? Some make their obsessions a tactile thing. Get up, check Facebook, check Voicemail, feel attached to the outside world. For others, it becomes an inner thing. Set an alarm, count steps, count brush strokes, feel a sense of personal peace.

These obsessions are not wrong. They are routine. They help us feel normal. But where do they come from? Watching our parents obsess and fixate I suppose. Or maybe it is from society messing with our minds to the point that all we can do to feel ordinary is control the little things. One last pathetic attempt to govern ourselves. It is amazing the power and overwhelming tranquility we can feel when our DVD collection is in alphabetical order, or every clock in the house is set to the exact time, down to the second. It helps us to sleep at night. Otherwise, we stay awake, obsessing about the little things. The things we believe we can control, and yet have not figured out how.

Maybe we obsess about obsessions. Maybe it is the very act of compulsion that keeps us moving forward in life. Maybe it is our goal to become neurotic, overbearing, and exactly like everyone else.

Can't Help But Wonder...

The discussion tonight came upon the topic of Can Guys and Girls Really Just Be Friends?

To me, this is an interesting debate which truly can only be held within mixed company. For girls, the answer is almost unanimously yes. For guys, it varies. Some guys believe that their platonic girlfriends are just that. Most, I find, will admit to harbouring secret feelings for their pal of the opposite sex.

I have accepted that the majority of guys do, in fact, wish to be more-than-friends. This knowledge comes in handy when meeting people. The underlying sexual tension can sometimes be used to one's advantage. On the other hand, sometimes girls just need a protector who doesn't secretly wish to be with them. It can be incredibly disappointing later on, when one admits to their true feelings, only to discover that the other person was completely oblivious and does not feel the same.

I have also heard the claim that guys and girls can just be friends as long as each are in a relationship. While it's true that this makes them off-limits to the other, does it not also add a certain dangerousness that some could find enticing? Maybe I've just watched one too many episodes of Grey's Anatomy, but it seems that a lot of people want what they can't have.

I'm not sure where the truth behind it all lies... but I can't help but wonder.

It's About Time...

I admit I have been somewhat late in producing this post. Welcome to real life; time is no longer my own. School may be the death of me yet. I am having a blast, but at the same time, it's no easy ride. But that's how it is supposed to be, I guess. If it was too easy, I would be bored. I have always said that I work well under pressure, and everyone seems to be testing this theory. But I shall prevail! I have to. Failure is simply not an option.

I am waiting, with bated breath, to see my article published in the school paper. Well, mine and Meagan's. Our editors had a slightly brainless moment and assigned Meagan and me the same story. But I truly believe that seeing my name printed in the paper will be the motivation I need to continue.

Tonight I think I will be lazy. After I work on my article, take my photos, do my readings for tomorrow, finish my homework and clean my room, that is. As I was saying, welcome to real life.