As you grow older, you realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones.
— Life Facts By Lemon (@lifeandlemon) January 14, 2015
I've never understood why some people would rather have many friends than a few solid ones. It's crazy because everyone you're calling your friend, really isn't a friend. Some of them are affiliates, others are acquaintances and only a select few are true friends. Affiliates are groups a person is associated with for a purpose. Affiliates carry out the group's activity, but they're not full members. For example, if I'm hanging with President Obama, I would be considered his affiliate because I'm around him for important matters, and I would get to go where he goes. People look at me and say to themselves "He's rolling with President Obama, so he gets to go where the President goes". Acquaintances are people you chat with (in)frequently; you may have a lot or little in common. With acquaintances, they have the potential for friendship, but you're testing them to see if they'll make the cut. Some acquaintances pass, others fail so it's important to pre-screen everyone that comes into your life. Last but not least, you have your friends: These are people you've known for years, who've seen you at your best & worst, and they're still by your side. They give you tough love, but they're still by your side because they want the best for you. A lot of people say it's hard to find friends & they're right. Not everyone who comes into your life is meant to be a friend. It's important to group people accordingly. It's easy to have a clique of people you hang with here and there, but how many people in that so-called clique can you count on for encouragement & support? Probably none. I've never been concerned with having many friends, just knowing I have 3-5 solid friends is good enough for me. I don't need a clique, posse or crew surrounding me. When I see folks in groups, it makes me think they can't stand alone, that they need back-up. You also have frenemies, those characters who act like your friend, but they're your enemy. I'll venture to guess that most people (if they're honest) will say they have more affiliates & acquaintances rather than friends, and that's ok. Friendship takes time to develop.
