The definition of friendship according to wikipedia is as follows: Friendship is a relationship between two people who hold mutual affection for each other.
The value of friendship is often the result of friends consistently demonstrating the following:
- The tendency to desire what is best for the other
- Sympathy and empathy
- Honesty, even in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth
- Mutual understanding and compassion; ability to go to each other for emotional support
- Enjoyment of each other's company
- Trust in one another
- Positive reciprocity — equal give-and-take between the two parties
- The ability to be oneself, express one's feelings and make mistakes without fear of judgement.
I wholeheartedly believe that the value of friendship as stated by wikipedia is an accurate definition of what constitutes a friend. Someone who can show sympathy and empathy towards your situation, is 100% honest with you at all times, someone you can trust, and most importantly RECIPROCITY in the relationship. For someone to be a “true” friend there has to be genuine reciprocity when it comes to all aspects of friendship whether it be emotional, physical, or mental.
