Being an Awesome Friend

When I was a kid there were kids that I met that I thought were sooo cool. I wanted to be friends with them so badly. They had the latest gaming systems, the nicest bikes, the coolest action figures. They were the friends to have.

Something happened though that made me rethink that concept. I got the coolest friend. He had all the game systems. He had a big fridge that was full of soda and Gatorade all the time. He had tons of awesome toys. He was the epitome of cool. But, there was a downside. He was a nice enough guy, but I was really his friend and not the other way around. He wasn't mean or anything, but he never once invited me over or to go to something with him. It was all me. We were friends for a few years, but into high school I realized that the relationship was almost completely one sided and I stopped trying.

Since then I have had friends, really good friends, who didn't have much of anything cool. They didn't have money, or fancy toys. They didn't go to cool concerts or amusement parks. They were "uncool". However, they had one thing that made up for all that. They cared.

I had a friend (we still are friends, but I moved away) who fit that definition. He lived in a little one bedroom apartment. He didn't have a ton of cool stuff. He drove an ancient Mercedes that looked like it was one pothole away from falling apart. He didn't wear the coolest clothes. The one thing he did have though was he cared. We hung out two or three times a week. Sometimes more. When he was going to go do something cool, he'd call me to come along. When I needed help he'd be the first one there. Often he was there when I realized I needed help in the first place.

He didn't always have answers when I needed them, he couldn't always help. But he would try, and he would listen. Despite never taking me on a trip, or giving me amazing presents, or getting me connected to the high and mighty, he was the best friend I've ever had.

So don't make friends because they are rich or powerful. Make friends because they will be good friends. Life is too short to waste your time on people who only put up with you.