One way or another, we're bound to need other people. We need companions. Or, as they are commonly called: friends.
We all have friends and at the same time, we are a friend to others—whether it's the friend that they put first or the friend they only remember when no one else is available. We have people who we grew up with and already treat as family and people who we only met a few months back but love just as much. That's natural. It's in our nature to want to be surrounded by fellow humans especially if these people make you feel happy and loved. Relationships are essential in our lives. We need relationships and yet relationships are the hardest to maintain.
It's no mystery that all relationships are complicated. Everyone knows that because everyone's been there. Everyone has been through a family reunion gone wrong, a friendship that ended without any closure, and a romantic relationship that you knew was actually already bound to end at some point but you still hoped would work.
However, there's all this fuss about life being complicated only when we make it to be. Well, yes, maybe it is. Maybe there could be an easier life with simple problems and simple solutions. But if there was such a thing then there wouldn't be any problem to solve in the first place. No challenges. No struggling to get a degree. No big fights and family feuds. No betrayals. No cheating.
It's about time we all realize that life and everything that comes with it really is complicated because it's not just one thing. It's a lot of different things.
Life can be a big new city that offers you opportunities or your small hometown that brings you comfort and security.
Life can be the great, big adventure you've prepared for a long time and yet still manages to surprise you along the way.
Life is not just black and white or yes or no. There are colors and maybes, what if's and how about's, not exactly's and I think so's.
Lastly, life can be your friend. Good or bad, it doesn't matter because a friend is and should be a friend no matter what.
Like life, a friend can be the best thing that's ever happened to you. A friend will be there for you to support you and pick you up when you're down. A friend will listen and offer warmth and comfort when much needed.
But like life, a friend isn't always the best. It will slap you with the truth or just wait patiently in silence and watch as you overthink and stress about what's going on until you start to have all these realizations and have a change in perspective and sometimes, even a change of heart. And whether or not everything that happened was necessary you will be grateful for your friend like you are for life because whatever it was that happened and caused you to change also made you stronger and much wiser. It made you believe in yourself and trust that you can get through anything and everything.
But again, like life, a friend will always be there. If one is truly a friend, one will not leave when they are pushed away. One will not be jealous of the other's triumphs and successes. One will not just get up and leave and forget everything like it never happened.
One will stay.
Under better circumstances you will find your way back to each other and if not, one will still be there. Close enough and always within reach.