I had a particularly good day today. At masters, I met two new guys who are super nice and were (right off the bat), easy to get along with. The chemistry in the lane was right on. (Sometimes just adding one person can be a struggle, but these guys fit right in).
The majority of my masters are men. I'm the only woman in my lane. The guys are so incredible. So supportive. The lane is the perfect mix of competition, support & kidding around.
After masters, I stayed to talk with a friend for awhile.
When I got back to work, I saw an article about friendships. It just really hit home for me. I thought I'd post it here.
I know I sound like a broken record, but I wouldn't be half the person I am without all of you. Here's the article, or you can click the link above.
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Friendship is one of the best aspects of life. That said, certain friends are certainly much better than others. A real friend and fake friend can be hard to distinguish, but they are very different! Real friends are people you can go to for anything. You know they will always be on your side, through thick and thin. Fake friends might as well be scum of the Earth for all the support they will give you. Use this guide to figure out if your friends are your real friends!
1. Support you in all your endeavors
A real best friend will encourage you with anything that you try! Whether it be taking up square dancing, or changing your career path, a real friend will be there every step of the way.
2. Love your dorky personality
We all have those dorky things we do on a regular basis. A real friend loves those things! In fact, if they are a true real friend they just might join inwith you!
3. Forgive you for anything
Sometimes you royally screw up. With fake friends, a mistake can cost you a friendship. Real friends will know that sometimes you’ll mess up. They will forgive you because they value your friendship more than your (temporary) mistake.
4. Always have your back
It isn’t a matter of who is on the other side, what the issue is, or if you’re in the wrong – a real friend will stand by you no matter what. They always are on your side and will fight for you with no questions asked. That’s just what a real friend does!
5. Let you explore your interests
As we grow, we discover new interests, and sometimes they seem very unlike ourselves! Fake friends will make fun of you and tell you to stick to the status quo. *cue High School Musical song* A real friend will let you do your thing and encourage you to explore this new part of yourself.
6. Know all your little quirks
We all have little quirks about ourselves (IE: we are cranky in the morning, we get flirtatious when drunk, we eat too many dinner rolls, etc.) that only our true friends know about. No one else knows you quite like your real friends. The fact that they notice those little quirks about you is a good sign!
7. They constantly keep in contact
Fake friends will only contact you when they need something or want to know some juicy gossip. Real friends will contact you wherever and whenever because they are always interested in what’s going on in your life. They don’t have to know the latest gossip about your relationship. They might just want to know what you had for lunch today.
8. They keep your secrets
If you can trust anyone to not gossip around town about your dark little secrets, it’s your real friends. Fake friends will treat your secrets like it’s nothing sacred. A real friend values your confidence, and will not tell anyone.
9. Don’t have to dress to impress
If you have to put on really nice clothes, do your hair, and make sure that you smell nice just to hang out – then you know you have fake friends. A true friend will let you come over in sweatpants with unwashed hair. The worst they might do is make a joke, but they won’t really care at all. They just want to spend time with you. Real friendship is measured in how gross you can look when you hang out!
10. They make time for you
It doesn’t matter if they only have an hour between work and their pottery class, a real friend will let you come over for a drink any time. It isn’t a matter of time, it’s a matter of they want to spend time with you, rather than having time to themselves.
11. Always have a shoulder to cry on
A big difference between real and fake friends is how they deal with your ups and downs. If you’re feeling down, a fake friend will pat you awkwardly on the shoulder and try to change the subject. Your real friends will wrap you in their arms and listen to you blubber all night, if you want them to. Real friends are there for you, whether you’re happy or sad.
If you’re trying to decide whether your friends are genuine or not, hopefully this guide helped you decipher which kind of friends you surround yourself with! It’s time to get real.
Source: “11 Differences Between Real Friends and Fake Friends,” from lifehack.org, by Morgan Hegarty