What really matters.. true friends

Sometimes it is so hard to see what you have right in front of you. Is it because we are goal-seeking or is it because we always think we need to want something more?

I am so blessed in my life to have wonderful friends and the most loving family in the world. How can I not be complete content with that alone. I know that I am always trying to make more and more friends, but why do I try so hard that it causes more stress than needed. There is a difference in being friendly to people and hoping that maybe you either add a little something special to their day or that maybe they will return the kindness and trying to make them like you or hoping that they take great interest in you. The first is an act of a Christian, the second is more vain. Being a Christian means that you will go out of your way never hoping for a reward, but doing it because that is you, that is who you are. Being vain is trying to gain for your own personal interest. Both may be pleasure seeking, which is why it is sometimes hard to distinguish. However, being a Christian is much easier in the end and actually ends up being much more rewarding because instead of causing stress because your initiative to be friendly is never shot down because you are never not getting what you want out of it. If you are always looking for response to your actions than you might never be happy. One cannot control if others will reciprocate in the way you are hoping for and why should be expect them to. Who knows what is going on in their lives that would make them respond negatively.

In retrospect, I think I would be a much more satisfied person if I accept the fact that I have the best of friends from high school and college and others that I have met along the way. Why should I ever need to put so much energy into trying to form relationships with everyone? I should instead focus that energy on relationships in my life that already make me happy. If more wonderful relationships happen into my life than I will gladly reciprocate. I think that I always feel the need to be friends with the most people and have everyone like me instead of building stronger relationships with the people that share energy in a relationships.

My friends are great and many already, what more could I ask for. I have true friends.