To be honest about it, I didn't even always like Sharley. Maybe that's the way it is with friends. Maybe the liking isn't the most essential part of being friends. Maybe it's the sticking by. Maybe it's the impression of yourself you get through your friend's eyes. Or maybe it's all the little lessons you learn.
This quote delves into the nuanced understanding of friendship, highlighting that true companionship isn’t solely built on mutual affection or constant admiration. Often, we expect friendships to be filled with great moments of joy and mutual liking, but this perspective recognizes that genuine connections can endure even when one doesn't always feel fully aligned with the other. The act of sticking by someone, regardless of personal feelings at every moment, speaks to loyalty and commitment—core qualities that define depth in a relationship. Additionally, the speaker touches on self-perception shaped through their friends’ eyes, implying that friendships play a crucial role in our identity and self-understanding. These relationships are not simply about surface-level enjoyment but about the lessons they impart and the resilience they foster within us. The acknowledgment that friends can sometimes be imperfect or even challenging reveals a mature view—relationships are complex, characterized by growth, patience, and forgiveness. Furthermore, the idea that friendships involve learning little lessons underscores that every encounter and interaction contributes to personal development, making friendships invaluable classrooms for life. It urges us to look beyond superficial metrics of liking someone and to value the loyalty, learning, and self-awareness that may sometimes come at the cost of personal convenience. Such reflections resonate deeply with the reality that authentic relationships usually demand effort and an understanding that love and affection are but part of the broader fabric of companionship.
