Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

A Price Tag on friendship

Posted in Labels: ,
Sunday, October 10, 2010


I was not that popular in secondary school, I did not have a lot of friends. Well, that could be understated. Living at the hostel seemed to extend one's social network. Everyone seemed to know you and you knew everybody. The probability of remembering that same individual and sharing a common event or incident is quite high. 

But true friends were scarce. Then I guessed, as teenagers, we were less sensitive to these kind of stuff. Everything revolved around entertainment and enjoyment. You will attract more friends if you have money and occasionally come with gifts, new toys or food, you can easily get around if you were outgoing, if you were funny or you just have that likable or charming personality.

So, how much do you know the people you think you know?

As we get older (and wiser), we are more tolerant and try our best to be accepted and to accept friends within the social circle that we are in. We greeted or smiled politely and maintain courtesy towards everybody at work. We are all friends at work or are we really? Unbeknown to us, a colleague could be complaining behind our back.

Can you buy friendship? or respect? 


I have known individuals who are generous with money and gifts and earned respect from friends and relatives. When that person made a mistake, did something out of line or hurt other individuals (that might not have a price index), others simply kept silent. Fearful that one will be alienated by the rest of the troupe or cut off from the list beneficiaries. 

An eye for an eye?

I remembered teacher's day celebration way back years ago. A colleague opened a present from one of her student. She let out a chuckle. The gift was a packet of tissue (pocket sized) nicely wrapped in colored paper. I reminded her that, it was the thought that counts.

I remembered hearing a snicker that broke into a laugh when a person opened the envelope given at a wedding function (usually people gave money instead of gifts and this became a tradition). It was a one dollar bill. I will never forget that face and that laugh. If you get that person an expensive gift for his/her birthday, I am sure that you will get an expensive gift in return. Does sincerity come with a price? 

So, why not present our dear and close ones with our endless Dua'? A good sincere Dua' will be priceless. And it is the thought that counts, right? 

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Like Poles

Posted in Labels:
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Some people simply hit it off at the first meeting. Things just clicked into place and their jokes made sense (or at least, you patiently/sincerely play along). You felt that you can trust this person (off course, to a degree) and felt comfortable sharing your thoughts and interests. You either become the best of buddies or form a clique. I have secondary schoolmates that I have lost contact since graduation and yet when we meet after more than ten years, we simply picked up where we left off.

Then there are certain individual that irks you (without any logical reasons). Their presence seemed to take up your private space. Their 'well-meaning' chitchat seemed to pollute the sound quality and they tend to blend into the background noise. Their expressive concerns could sometimes be irritating... etc etc.. if you know what I mean. Eh, sorry you would not know what I am talking about. This was just something that came up and was debated with a friend. A useless debate... current and nagging. I argued that this was not the case, you do not dislike a certain individual for no apparent reason. Well, a friend once told me that, we might see ourself in that individual... just like Magnets, like poles repel?

I have had difficulties in trying to wrap up this post and at first I was unsure what was the point to this post at all. Then I realized that I have met a certain individual that seemed to challenge my peaceful environment. Not that this person present a potential dilemma to my already chaotic life. I have learnt to understand my current predicament and succeeded to keep the mess manageable. This person showed the will to organize the disorganized, to command and calm the waves of disjointed concepts and probably will make life less exciting than it already is.

There’s an old saying that "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior", should I put on my protective headgear and body armour?
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