October 1, 2008

It's Not About Making The Friendship, But Building The Friendship

We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

There are million different definitions, quotes even poems to describe what friendship is. So I’m not gonna talk about that. I’m talking about building friendship.

Yeah, with the time, the meaning of friendship is changing. But still, making friendship isn’t all, it’s all about harvesting the friendship. And it takes time to grow an old friend.

Yes, we grow older but the number of fleeting friends is always higher than the number of friends we’re making. It hurts as we rarely can figure out the exact reason.

We all need friends and we meet some people who blew off us. We think, “Oh my God, he is so cool, witty and have a wallet which is more expensive than the money he keeps in (come on, he uses credit card nah).”

But few weeks later, you find, there is something wrong. He isn’t responding any of your mails, messages or scraps. You are confused and start feeling blue. You are thinking, “Is he ignoring me?” or “Did I do anything wrong?”

You are coming up with hundreds little possibilities and trying harder to get him back in your life. But the more you are trying, the more he is fleeting.

STOP messaging now! We need friends but don’t act like needy for friends.

If you are sending anyone mails, messages or calling him on the phone but you’re not getting any response, it doesn’t mean he is ignoring you. There are 3 different possibilities: first, he is damm busy; second, he is going through some rough phases of his life and third, he is really ignoring you :D 
1. He is damm busy.

To be busy, no body needs to be Bill Gates. He isn’t responding you, maybe he really doesn’t have that quality time you deserve. Keep patience for 15 days, don’t bombard him with calls or messages. And then (after 15 days) send him a witty message:
“Hey,
Would I talk with your "Miss Work" so that you can get some time for yourself?
Let me know.”
If he really thinks you as his friend he will respond you. If not, the second possibility comes.

2. He is going though some rough phases.

Problem is a part of life and no body knows when it’ll knock at his door. And there are people who love a little space to rejuvenate himself in challenging time. It’s very sensitive, so be careful.

Though, it’s very tough to guess from the other side. That's why, give another 10 days gap and then send him a group mail — a mail you will send and address to every of your friends (including him).
“Hello everyone,
Really sorry, couldn't mail you all. It's so busy schedule here. So many new projects and friday is the deadline. But hope, you all are having a great time. (Then add a positive punch-line). God bless you all!”
That’s it. Remember, you are addressing to everyone but you are interacting only with him. Don't add fillers or your sentiment. Just let him know, he is your friend. If he thinks the same, he’ll come back as soon as he’ll pass through the odds.

Remember, absence to friendship is like wind to fire. If the fire is small, it extinguishes it, but if it’s great, it inflames it. Wait and see how big his friendship is. If he doesn’t come back?

3. He is ignoring you.

The tough one. In this internet age the “ignoring factor” is getting higher as making friendship is as easy as making lemonade — courtesy to “Facebook,” “Orkut,” and "MySpace.”

Listen!

Friendship is about mutual understanding. If the other person doesn’t wanna be friend with you any more, sorry, you can’t help. The more you try, the more he will ignore you. Better stop and let him go.

I know, I know, you both had a blast. You both made a dull moment into an exciting one. But if he doesn’t wanna go along with you, let it be. 

But don’t hold grudges against you. Maybe some of your action ignite him to go different way but it doesn’t mean it’s your fault. If any friendship ends, ask yourself, “Did I give my best to make that friendship great?” If your answer comes as “yes,” you aren’t missing anything. It’s he who is missing a caring friend. Yes, it hurts but hold your head high.

It’s always better not to have any judgmental person as a friend than not having any. Bible says, “God doesn’t judge people until they die.” Then who we are, the human, to judge people in just few weeks?

You know, sometimes we need to meet people to find out that they are really our strangers!

You don’t need 100 friends. Yeah, you just need few GREAT friends – FEW!

Tell me one thing: when you find yourself with extra weight, what do you do? You do exercise to loss that extra fat to be in shape, right? We need to lose some judgmental friends to a have few GREAT friends.

Yes, losing judgmental friends is very, very, very necessary. It will help you to learn how to be grateful when you find a true one.

Remember! The part of loving is learning to let go. Because in this way, you’ll be lucky to find that person you are meant for.

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11 comments:

spicymist said...

wokay, ur practically a stranger to me, but when i say, ur writing is awesome, it isnt flattery, it is the truth:P now that thats clarified, abt the article i agree with almost all of what you wrote. but i still dunt get it when do u noe, u have to let go. how do u noe, when u let go, if u had held on for jus a lil longer, perhaps it wud haff wrked out...?

Shamelle said...

I must admit that I was alarmed when I first read the title of the post. However, as I read through the post it all came together :-)
While many people write about "How to make friends", I think you have addressed a uncommon perspective.

Great post.
Shamelle
The Enhance Life

Roy said...

@ SpicyMist—

:D :D Hmmm, you hv a good observation (flattery/strangers)!

Thanks for the nice words!

Look, there is a slim line between “let him go” and “force him to go”

When you aren’t getting any response and sending mails like hell. You are giving him the sign that you’re needy. And nobody likes the needy people.

The more you chase him, the more he will run away. At the end, it’s you who’ll get devastated.

Don’t even write angry mails or messages, it makes you look “insecure.” Guys hate that. Keep patience, the true friend will come back, but not the false one!

But if you take the “wait & see” approach, chances are:

He will respect you for your understanding (maybe it can again brings him back)

And, I said “let him go” – wait and watch.

Don’t showered him with too any mails or calls. Give him a space.

Remember, absence to friendship is like wind to fire. If the fire is small, it extinguishes it, but if it’s great, it inflames it. Wait and see how big his friendship is.

Roy said...

@ Shamelle—

Yeah, the title is little bit off-bit. I’m trying to change it :D

Actually I took the topic bcoz I always give importance in building friendship.

Hey, you are the first one from Srilanka in my blog, grand welcome!

And yeah, I'm fan "The Enhance Life" :D

Cheers!

spicymist said...

yeah theres a slim line i guess. but is everyone a good judge of seeing that line? what i meant was , when do u realise that u shud move on, that ur done waiting ?

Roy said...

@ SpicyMist—

I'd say – when you hv find yourself more than one month, not having any reply. STOP!

Now take a long gap, write a short mail with humor (emotions? no-no!)

If still he doesn’t come back, write a “Group mail” – a mail you’ll send to each and every of your friends includes him sharing some of your “happy moments”

If still he doesn’t come back, MOVE ON!

Cheers

PS: No angry mails or asking for sympathy. It'll make him think "you are insecure."

Heart'n'Soul said...

OH MY GOD

This is exactly what i need rite now... r u a mind reader or wat?

Sneha Kapoor said...

******** Reply to 3 different possibilities

Luuuvved ur post on ‘Friendship & the 3 different possibilities’.

Especially the line –
If any friendship ends, ask yourself, “Did I give my best to make that friendship great?” If your answer comes as “yes,” you aren’t missing anything. It’s he who is missing a caring friend. Yes, it hurts but hold your head high.

Also the end that leaves a thoughtful msg - The part of loving is learning to let go. Cuz dat way, you’ll be lucky to find that person you are meant for.

N yes, I’m still waitin’ for the tuneful post – in Roy style 

Roy said...

@ DivKiran & Sneha,

You know what: whenever I see anyone cries on split milk it really make me think, why?

If anyone doesn’t feel bad, by deserting anyone, then why we put the weight of pain on us.

That person is cool about that, why we’re chopping our happiness.

If losing is right, it happens - nothing good gets away.

Yeah, sometimes some cool memories play hide and seek with our emotion. But you know, it’s not any event or that person, that makes us feel great. It’s the feeling they brought to us makes us happy – the feelings.

Yeah, we won’t get the same feeling again but who knows the feeling we’re gonna experience in future won’t be better than these.

God gives us tomorrow only when He is sure that it’s gonna be better than the yesterday.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

nice post roy and may i also add "as always"....keep it up.....God Bless.....

Roy said...

Sadiya,

You know: yesterday I was in a concert by KK, the most claps he got when he sang:

Teri har ek buraee pe dante woh dost
Gham ki ho dhoop to saaya bane tera woh dost
Nache bhi woh teri khushi me

I didn't forget buddy that you are the only one from my old blog who still visit here.

Cheers!