What Friends Are...

[Rosalind Friday]

There are enough people in this world who are judgmental, hypercritical, and who do not support others' hard work and ambitions.  Sadly, many of these people are our own 'family', and that is just how it goes sometimes, we marshal on-- we try our best and try to work towards a goal, or a pinnacle of something that we hold dear.  We have to understand that those we are genetically related to may not share our views or value the same things we do.  It happens.  Then, as we grow and mature, we surround ourselves with chosen family, our friends, and presumably, these people largely share the same values system we do, many of the same interests, and are genuinely supportive of our pursuits so long as these do not include harming others or imminent danger to our own selves.

 

Our friends are our touchstones, they are our support, our courage, and our shoulders to cry on at times.  They keep us honest, not letting our heads get too big, but they are also our cheering section when we doubt ourselves.  Some of us, have inner circles, those people that get an even closer look behind closed doors, the people that see when we cry or when we break down, that see how hard we work towards that THING that we love.  We may not always understand the dream that our friends pursue, or the motivation for it, but we are there for them.

 

My plea, nay—my statement is this.  If you wish to be judgmental and hypercritical about what I do—if you do not understand it, like it, or support it. Then, don’t look at my page, portfolio, print work, or whatever else you may see as self-aggrandizing propaganda.  Don’t ask me what I did last weekend or what I am doing next month if you don’t want to hear SOMEthing related to pinup, because its likely in there SOMEwhere.  It is certainly not all of me, but it is part of me, a very important part.  I am working towards a goal, I enjoy what I do and I work hard at it.  If you think this is all just ego-stroking on my part, then you do not know me, and I do not need you in my corner. 

 

At the end of the day, I expect my friends to be able to call me on b.s. if I espouse it and keep me humble, but also to know who I truly am as a person and what I am working towards.  If you need it clarified, I am happy to discuss it.  

 

Let’s be there for each other’s dreams and goals and help each other grow and learn.