Never Have I had the Urge: To be Unfriendly

Friendship feels simple when we’re young.

You meet someone at school, on the basketball court, in the neighborhood, or through another friend, and somehow that’s enough. You start talking, laughing, spending time together, and before long you’ve got yourself a friend.

Then adulthood happens.

People move. Careers change. Families grow. Time gets tighter. Some friendships fade naturally. Others survive years, distance, and even long stretches without seeing one another.

In this episode of Never Have I Had the Urge, I found myself thinking about what friendship really means as we get older.

Can someone you’ve never actually sat in the same room with become a genuine friend?

Can you reconnect with someone from your childhood and discover that, while the memories are still there, the two of you have grown into completely different people?

And what happens when a friendship between two people starts drifting toward something more? Is it worth taking that chance when doing so could change the relationship forever?

I also realized that friendship doesn’t always come from the places we expect. Sometimes the people who know us best, check on us most often, make us laugh, and simply show up are members of our own family.

Maybe friendship isn’t really about how long you’ve known someone.

Maybe it’s about trust.

Consistency.

Being able to pick up the phone.

Being there without always needing something in return.

And maybe one of the most important parts of friendship is simply allowing people the opportunity to become one.

So let me ask you the same question I wrestled with during this episode:

What makes someone a real friend to you?

Listen to Never Have I Had the Urge: To Be Unfriendly wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you enjoy the show, share the episode with somebody you consider a true friend.

— Victor J.