Certain rituals are rather routine, and hence banal and boring by now. Yes, I am referring to the Friendship Day. The celebration is so much a ritual now that even its criticism as a convenient concession to capitalism also appears trite, vapid and cliched.
Well, these days, you cannot quote Sudama and such myths to celebrate friendship. Oh, yes, 'friends' these days are mere fair weather friends. The moment you are not useful to them, they drop you like a hot potato. They behave as if you do not exist at all. They are forever busy to spare even a minute to talk to you, while they can gas on and on, gossiping with 'the' gang, and for ages. You are plain amused at yourself for ever thinking of such curiosities as possible friend material at all.
Hence on this friendship day, a little think-through about who is a friend. In my opinion, a friend can be a person who basically respects you. Such a person would not two-time, would not stab in the back, would not spread gossip slyly and secretly so as to 'manage' some silly and minor gains.
A friend is always upfront about the apparent mistakes, possible errors even when the tone for explicating these can be gentle. A friend always has a friend's back in absentia, would stand up for the friend's honour, right?
Given such realities, I suppose, the best friends should be the immediate family who would always have your welfare at heart. Books, whether writing or reading them, are best buddies, too, as the whole universe, in all its complexities and absurdities, its beauties and glories, literally unravels in front of you. So are hobbies like music, painting, gardening. A pet, especially a dog, can be a great companion, in fact, often the best one.
Personally I am of the opinion that THE best friend you can ever have is YOU Yourself. Thus can you freely critique yourself, better yourself as your only comparison is with yourself alone. By trying to be a better version of yourself by the day, you increase the respect quotient hugely, too. There is no question here of consciously belittling or of compromising on genuineness, right? The moment you achieve this balanced relationship, bliss is life, and every day is a friendship day!
Pratima@I suppose, the entire human species better tie, and as soon as possible, a forever friendship band to nature and environment, right?
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