Best Friends: a special class of people

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Albert Camus

Many of us have ambitions. Some of us are born to be leaders, to guide others, to guide an organization towards prosperity and greatness. Some of us are better suited behind the scenes, helping to chose a leader, then following to give advice and support as needed. Others, a special group, are content to be as we are; a friend.

No matter what the ambitions are, we need someone from that special group, to walk besides us. Someone we can share our innermost thoughts with. We need someone who would say “stop, you’ve gone too far”, or “yes, you’re doing the right thing”, or “don’t worry, we can fix it together”. Or simply to say “I’m listening”.

We need someone to walk alongside and listen, as we show our inner self, without rendering judgement. Someone who knows our darkest secrets and yet stays by our side.

For some, that person may be your partner, your mate, your love. For most, it’s a person you’ve known long before you met your love, and will know long after your love is gone. It’s a person you can tell your feelings to, without the fear of losing them. It’s the person you turn to when your love abandons you, when your love lets you down.

Nothing is more valuable in this world than a good friend. For those who have that person, you are among the luckiest in the world. If you haven’t found that person, stop looking. A true friend is not someone you look for.

A valued friendship is something that happens naturally, over time. It is different than love, where you need to present an image to find love. With friendship, being yourself is the key.

A friendship starts with someone you instinctively connect with and can freely talk to. Someone you’d ask to walk alongside you. Someone who does not lead nor follow you, but walks next to you. Someone you can be yourself with.

You’ll find that person when you become part of that special group, when you yourself,  becomes a friend to someone.

Live like there’s no tomorrow and learn as if your life depended on it.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Gandhi

Many times we put things off because we feel there is not enough time. We’re too old to go back to school, too old to learn something new, to old for a new hobby; there may not be a tomorrow.

Other times we put things off thinking we have plenty of time. Why hurry to finish school when you have your whole life ahead of you? Why take on that book you want to write, or that painting you want to draw, or those words you wanted to tell someone, when you have your whole life ahead of you; there’s always tomorrow.

You are never to young to start enjoying life. You should tell that special someone how you really feel. You should start that project you’ve always thought about. You should live today as if it’s your last day. One day it will be and all of those things you’ve been putting off will remain undone.

You are never too old to learn. If we all stopped learning because we’re going to die someday, we’d all be idiots. As it is, there are too many idiots in this world. It is better to die tomorrow having a little more knowledge than to live another year as an ignorant idiot.

Knowledge helps you enjoy life more. Knowledge engages the mind, opens doors to the imagination. Life becomes a kaleidoscope of wonders, filled with people, places and  experiences you never thought possible. The more knowledge you gain, the more fulfilling living becomes. As you live, your thirst for knowledge grows.

If you haven’t begun enjoying the moment, thinking there would be many more, you might as well be a mindless drone, whose only purpose is to work so others can enjoy life.

if you stop learning, thinking there were not enough moments, you’ll never appreciate the new wonders of the world. You’ll be known as that old person who lives in the past.

There are too many old idiots in this world. Don’t be another one. Forget about dying, and  live like there’s no tomorrow and learn as if your life depended on it.