Recently I have been thinking about what true friendship is. According to some people, true friends are selfless and are not opportunists. They are not seeking to gain. Signs include a mutual desire for companionship and perhaps a common bond of some kind. Beyond that, genuine friendship involves a shared sense of caring and concern, a desire to see one another grow and develop, and a hope for each other to succeed in all aspects of life. True friendship involves action: doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return.
Sometimes (or maybe a lot of times), people form friendships or relationships with hidden motives. Perhaps they hang with you because they're lonely or because they live close so its easy to help out each other or because you're a lawyer or someone with money or someone they know who would become useful in the future. Or perhaps the motive behind the friendship is entertainment. Once the friendship loses its fun, its gone. I called them friendship of convenience. Once they lose their convenience or usefulness for you, they are no longer worthy of your friendship. I used to know a girl who I would almost consider her a true friend until now that I go to a different campus as her, I no longer hear from her. I guess she she just wanted someone to hang with her daily so she won't look like a loner. Now I know she just consider me as a friend of convenience.
That makes me think abit. I used to think that I had many friends but now with the added criteria of being selfless and not being an opportunists...I have narrowed down to only two people who I have ever considered true friends (although I do not know if they have a hidden agenda for being friends with me. At least I don't.)
Do you think true friendship exist? In the sense that you're friends with them with no hidden agenda. What are some ways to look for true friendship?
Have you ever imagine taking away all the perks of your friendships? Would you still stay?
