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By acting as mirrors, friends help us define who we are by reflecting our selves back to us. Good friends enrich our lives in so many ways. Through a magical
combination of similarities and differences, friends offer us the opportunity
to know ourselves as we are and help us grow into who we want to be. Our
similarities attract us to each other, comforting us with familiarity when we
see ourselves in them. When we are drawn to those we admire, the same
recognition is at work, unconsciously acknowledging that these people possess
qualities that we ourselves possess. By acting as mirrors, friends help us
define who we are by reflecting our selves back to us. Friends also help us know ourselves through our differences. Differences
allow us to see other options and make choices about who we want to be.
Sometimes we are drawn to those who appear to be our opposites, and we learn
to accept the parts of them we love and the parts of them that don't resonate
with us, thus allowing us a valuable learning experience. By expanding
our understanding to include others' experiences, friends help us accept
others. By understanding when someone's life differs from our own, we can
learn about ourselves in contrast. There are times when we see in friends
what we don't like about ourselves. That mirror reflection may be hard to
take, but a good friend helps us find ways we can change and supports us in
that choice.
Part of the joy of friendship is the feeling that we are accepted just the
way we are, with no need to change. It is a gift they give us, and one we can
give back every day. Ultimately, we choose friends because they make us feel
good about ourselves and life. Through tears and difficulties, friends help
us find the laughter. When we find those special people who offer us that
perfect combination of comfort and stimulus to grow, we are very fortunate.
Friends, those wonderful companions that walk with us through life, help us
define and refine who we are and who we choose to be every day. |
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