LEAN ON ME*

LEAN ON ME*

I have written about Best Friends, Women Friends, Men Friends, Partners and Family in the course of writing these essays. The reason I do so is because, each and every human being, is a social being, who needs someone.

In times of trial and hardship especially, we need someone in our lives to lean on when we aren’t strong enough to stand up alone.

I credit the fact that I’m Still Standing (in the immortal words of Elton John) because when I have been in trouble, someone was there to give me a hand up until I regained my Balance.

While no one ever said that any of us is going to be guaranteed a smooth, easy life; a life that has good Friends in it, is already better than one that does not.

Anyone who has good friends knows however that they did not arrive on our doorstep one morning and decide to accompany us in life forever.

What we see much more of however, is a lot of angry people. You can see it in their faces, you can hear it in their words. It permeates their lives. I think they are living it 24/7. Their days are full of it, and they bring it home at night and sleep on it. Worse still, they wake up to more of the same. No wonder they seem like the walking wounded. They actually are.

No one goes through life with everything smooth and beautiful and perfect. However, approaching things with a spirit of friendliness and Good Will, shows a willingness to be open and cooperative.

You tend to be able to meet and interact best with people who approach life in a way similar to your own.

With time you come to understand, appreciate and accept the person you have come to know and feel friendship and love for them.  

When you both know you can count on each other and trust each other to ‘have your back’ and support you, almost everything else in your life becomes easier.

Trust and respect however, are earned not automatically given.  All the discussion in the world is rubbish if you don’t follow up and keep your promises. What you do is a lot more important than what you say.

You get a reliable friend when you are a reliable friend yourself.  Both of you offer each other mutual support and encouragement.

Meanwhile, you show that you respect the other person by showing them at least, the courtesy and consideration that you do the strangers you meet every day.

Appreciate and acknowledge the special gift they are in your life. You will be happier and more satisfied than you thought you ever could be.

You deserve the friends (and the partner) you have in life. When you cherish and appreciate people, you become the kind of person who deserves the good things and good people who came into your life and stayed.

Pause and reflect on this. Appreciate and acknowledge the good fortune you have earned together and now can enjoy and celebrate. If you want to continue to have it, live a life that deserves the trust and respect and love that you want and need in life.

*LEAN ON ME – 1972 song by Bill Withers