Everyday Canvas

True Friends

How have your friendships with other women inspired you, or helped you to become a better you?

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First, the only person that can really make me better is me alone.

Then, while raising one of my sons, having dealt with what bad friends could do to a person, I do understand and appreciate the value of this question and the value of truly fine and moral friends.

I am careful with friendships, even though I am friendly with almost anyone, except the crooked people who act nice and call me on the phone as if they are from Medicare, which again happened a few minutes ago. You won’t believe how rude I am to such people.

My rule number one: A good friend will never force you into anything you don’t want to do, even if he or she detects danger.

Rule number two: A good friend will not encourage you if you are doing something wrong or hurtful to anyone else.

That just about covers it, with a few amendments here and there.

Having said all that, a good friendship has nothing to do with gender. It isn’t only the women who have made my life fuller. I have had and still have man friends who made much better friends than any she-friend I had.

In short, I think a true friend accepts you as you are, understands your life and work and what you have done so far, and hopes the best for your future.