Thank you

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

It is easy to find friends, but very difficult to maintain their friendship for a long time. Some people are blessed to have friends, who stick to each other through the thick and thin of their lives and never ever break the relation, even with geographical distance or time. Others take time to open up with people, while there are many others, who do not feel confident about themselves to have friends for their lifetime. Long lasting friendship does not happen in a day. It takes years to develop understanding and higher levels of trust, if you want to boast of having old friends. It needs equal efforts from both sides to make the relation work.

Some childhood friendships actually develop into long lasting friendship, since it is a result of mutual understanding and undeterred trust. People swear by the power of old friendship. The fact that there is always a trusted friend to fall back upon in times of need is very re-assuring. In fact, very few are blessed with long lasting friendships. Friends who have been with each other through the highs and lows; those who have seen each other fail and rise again, would definitely be true to each other. Those pals who have seen each other laugh and cry and yet stood by each other, accepting the good and the bad points, are true friends and they can maintain long lasting friendship.

The bond between the old friends is formed is so strong that even long distance cannot deter it. One can find a sparkle in the eyes of the people, when they tell about having old friends and boast of the longevity of their friendship. Childhood friendship is usually formed, when young kids get to know their immediate classmates and neighbors. Although they fight and cry at first, just like normal kids, with time, they get to develop a good level of understanding. The secret to long lasting friendships is not giving up on each other. It is inevitable that they grow up, form their opinions, have different temperaments and attitudes and possibly have different lifestyles. Yet, they hold onto each other and respect each other's opinions and attitudes.

Finding a true friend, who stays around forever, is something that life offers to very few. Often, life is compared to a train journey - you come across many people, enjoy the moment to the fullest and bid good bye to them. Similarly, you might come across many friends in your life, but it would be hard to find that person, who emerges as your true friend. Yet, some people are saluted for their great friendships that they have developed in their lifetime. It is astonishing to find them maintaining their friendship right from their school time until their old age. When asked how, with a spark in their eyes, they would boast of the level of understanding and trust that they have developed, over the years. Perhaps this is the reason why many friendships are old, but as pure as gold.

Short Story On Friendship
Long time ago in ancient Greece, there live a man named Socrates, who was highly knowledgeable and an esteemed philosopher. One fine day, a fellow approached him. That person told Socrates that he has some information to tell him about his friend. Before he could even start talking about his friend, Socrates told him to take a test known as the 'Triple Filter Test'. 

The first test of the 'Triple Filer Test' was the filter of truth. Socrates asked him if the information he had was the truth. The person said that he had just heard it on the way and was not sure if it was the absolute truth. The second filter was that of goodness. He asked if the information was regarding anything good about his friend. The man said it was actually the opposite. The third filter was that of usefulness. Socrates asked if the information was useful to him in any way. The man replied in the negative. 

Socrates then replied that when the information regarding a friend is not true, good or useful, then why it should be conveyed at all. The moral of the story is that you may always participate in loose gossip, but when it comes to your friends ,it is just not worth it. You know your friends better than others. Therefore, you must avoid talking behind the back of your dearest friends. It only leads to strained relations and shows that you are not reliable or trustworthy as a friend

My Special List

I have a list of folks I know...

all written in a book,

And every now and then..

I go and take a look.

That is when I realize

these names... they are a part,

not of the book they're written in...

but taken from the heart.

For each Name stands for someone...

who has crossed my path sometime,

and in that meeting they have become...

the reason and the rhyme.

Although it sounds fantastic...

for me to make this claim,

I really am composed...

of each remembered name.

Although you're not aware...

of any special link,

just knowing you, has shaped my life...

more than you could think.

So please don't think my greeting...

as just a mere routine,

your name was not...

forgotten in between.

For when I send a greeting...

that is addressed to you,

it is because you're on the list...

of folks I'm indebted to.

So whether I have known you...

for many days or few,

in some ways you have a part...

in shaping things I do.

I am but a total...

of many folks I've met,

you are a friend I would prefer...

never to forget.

Thank you for being my friend!

Thank you for believing in me when I found it difficult to believe in myself...

for saying what I've needed to hear sometimes, instead of what I've wanted to hear....

for siding with me....

and for giving me another side to consider.

Thank you for opening yourself up to me....

for trusting me with your thoughts and disappointments and dreams....

for knowing you can depend on me and for asking my help when you've needed it.

Thank you for putting so much thought and care and imagination into our friendship...

for sharing so many nice times and making so many special memories with me.

Thank you for always being honest with me...

being kind to me...

being there for me.

Thank you for being a friend to me in so many meaningful ways.

Hakunamatata!!!!!!