Gift of Friendship
Being
used to a stressful life in college, I often find myself confident or should I
say assured that life after the academe would be a piece of cake. Going out
from a four-walled institution would be easy and more fulfilling. The
job-hunting issues would be a thing of the past but NO!!!! Sometimes learning
from personal misconceptions isn’t a bad thing after all, it is an opportunity
for a person to grow and be molded accordingly. To be gauge of one’s tolerance
as to know how far can you take such rigged fate of reality. Being
aware of such consequences, I openly accepted my own doings and opted to have a
more mature outlook in life. As I venture to the pitiful depths of my
existence, along the way, I lost some things essential and gain favorable
results; moreover I realized how important it is to value persons, who, in one
way or another made a huge impact to my life. Persons whom I consider friends,
real friends to be exact, instead of referring to them as mere co-workers and
that’s when I discovered the true meaning of FRIENDSHIP.
"Some people come into
our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our
hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
On
a regular morn of October 19, 2009, my sister’s birthday, I went to what will
be my very first job interview. The usual “look and be your best –
attitude” overwhelmed me that I can feel butterflies on my stomach and
tend to stutter a lot. With such mind-setting did I get the job? Nope, I don’t
think so. Boom!!! Just like that, everything fell flat and I can feel my legs
starting to feel a little weak or jelly legs as I like to call them. With every
step I make, I reflect on what, when and where did I go wrong? For 45 minutes,
traveling back to my house, I started to feel a little teary, almost shedding,
yet I swallowed it up, often glancing outside the window to change my focus,
hoping to lighten up my mood. The moment I reached home, I quickly went to my
room and pour my heart out. Everything is a blur, this is insane, I said to myself,
thinking that having a good academic performance is a one way ticket to
success. For three days, I went on a hunger strike, not even mingling with my
housemates. Surprisingly, they made the effort to cheer me up and gain
something from them, the first gift of friendship, being there at your darkest
times, the meaning of COMPANIONSHIP.
"Friends
show their love in times of trouble...
One
loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."
- Euripides
(408 B.C.)
The
time I noticed it, I was on my second and third job contract signing, with the
latter being my first job of choice. For a period of more or less 6 months, my
work became really promising. I manage my way to the top, making sure that
every performance bears positive and above-average results. In a way, meeting
real friends that who were always there in every step of the way. Then the day
of reckoning came, evaluation “hell” week. Expecting much of myself prove to be
detrimental and a confidence buster!!! I was not able to make it, with only a
point missing, and was forced to take second and third evaluations. During such
dreadful circumstances, my friends uplifted my already damage morale and made me
look at the brighter side of life. Sound poetic but it’s true, they were not only
there to help me but to show me that my imperfection can be used as an
advantage. They were successful in making me change. Such friendly attribute
that refers to HONESTY, is the second gift to expect. Honesty to
tell your good points as well as your shortcomings not in a mocking way but in
a challenging aspect to encourage you to be more from what you are today.
On the day of my third evaluation, I pass my resignation letter and
demanded to have it approved immediately, kidding aside, I used my acting
skills to win their favor. At that moment I felt free again, democracy in a
more diplomatic kind of way.
"A
friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway."
- Fr.
Jerome Cummings
Currently
on my third job, but this time around I think I found some missing pieces from
my previous jobs. Enjoying what I do and the friendship established along the
way. I may have a bumpy start but was able to compose myself and pattern my
preferences to them. It’s the time where all seems perfect and all you need to
do is just to live the moment without inhibitions. Be yourself and live
confidently towards your goal. My friends here taught me the gift of
happiness. HAPPINESS as a result from an already solid
foundation. Tested by time and ripened by experience, a stage wherein in
maturity, sincerity and fun-filled fiasco collide to produce such perfect
relationship.
"There
is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of
friends."
- Hillaire
Belloc
Companionship,
honesty and happiness equate to LOVE and that is what
friendship is widely based at. Loving and lifting your spirits when you’re down
and lonely. Loving the imperfections and embracing such without hesitations,
which never fails to correct it. And loving you as to what you are and being
happy to what you bring and cherish. It may root from various reasons yet its
meaning is simple, “being a true friend unconditionally.”
"We
cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a
vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a
series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over."
- Samuel
Johnson
***Note: Originally posted on my old blog....
I think you know that you are one of the few I consider my real friends... and I thank you for the gift of friendship. Always remember that I am always here for you :)
ReplyDeleteI always have that in mind doc... same goes to you... and this is one gift that you've made me realize "Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest... It's about who came, and never left your side..."
ReplyDelete