REDEFINING FRIENDSHIP: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRIENDS AND FAMILIAR FACES.

FRIENDSHIP

Friendship shouldn’t be this hard or at least, it doesn’t have to be, but somewhere along the way, we started confusing acquaintances with friends. We hand out the title of friend like its candy at a party and then we get surprised when the person we thought would show up when the chips are down… doesn’t.

Here’s the thing, not everyone deserves the friendship title. Some people are meant to stay acquaintances and some acquaintances? might just end up being the most loyal friends you never expected.

The Friendship Tax

Being a friend is not about likes on social media, double-tapping a post or sending a “Happy Birthday” text. True friendship comes with a kind of investment, a tax, if you will, it’s time, energy, trust and sometimes, vulnerability and not everyone is prepared to pay that tax.

Some can handle small transactions, check in occasionally, laugh at your jokes, share memes, but they won’t go to battle with you and that’s okay if we understand the role they play in our lives.

The Acquaintances who show up

Funny thing is, some people we barely call friends, maybe they’re just acquaintances, end up showing up when it matters most. They notice your struggle before you even mention it and they surprise you with a call or a message when you’re at your lowest.

These people redefine your understanding of friendship, they don’t fit the title neatly, but their actions scream loyalty louder than anyone else’s words.

Friends vs. Acquaintances; Learning the Difference

Friends act like friends, they don’t just say it, they prioritize you when it counts and even when it’s inconvenient. They’re not perfect, they will disappoint you sometimes but they consistently show up.

Acquaintances? They live in the maybe space. They are nice, pleasant, enjoyable, but you can’t rely on them when the storm comes.

Why We Make the Mistake

We assign the title of friend too quickly because society teaches us that friendship is about numbers. Social media doesn’t help either, it makes everyone seem closer than they really are, so we end up hurt, confused, frustrated, asking ourselves; Why didn’t they call? Why didn’t they show up? The reality? They weren’t your friend, they were an acquaintance, playing a different role in your life.

The Secret to Less Complicated Friendships

Stop over-assigning the word “friend”, stop expecting everyone to pass the loyalty test, instead, let people’s actions define their title. Let your life naturally separate acquaintances from friends and when you do, you’ll stop feeling bitter when someone doesn’t show up and start appreciating the ones who do even if you barely knew they would.

Final thought

Friendship isn’t complicated, it has never been complicated, we make it complicated when we mislabel people. Some friends should be acquaintances while some acquaintances should be friends and some, well… they’ll surprise you, reminding you that loyalty doesn’t always wear the clothes you expect.

So, next time you’re frustrated with your friends, take a step back and ask yourself; Do they deserve the title, or am I just hoping they do? The answer will save you a lot of heartbreak and maybe, just maybe, make friendship feel a little lighter.