Blood isn’t much thicker than water

Despite what hundreds (possibly more, I’m not doing any research for this) of years of this old addage being repeated, I feel it’s safe to call bullshit. As much as I’d like to believe that family will always be there for you and that they are all you need in the world, it’s just not true.

Family bonds are only as thick as the friendship that the two members share. I see on a daily basis family members that hold grudges for the dumbest reasons. So, screw what people say about family ties. The family members I love, I love because I really feel like I’m friends with each one of them. Not the typical friendship one might have with another person, but a friendship nonetheless. I think it’s these friendships that people mistake with simply being a part of a family.

Friends are essential to everyone. You can tell nearly everything about somone by who their friends are. And I mean actual friends. People who you would honestly give up a part of yourself to help if you could. Sometimes it takes a little research to find those people. I analyze my own friends often to see if it defines who I am - and they really do.

All my friends are as intelligent, or more intelligent than me. No, not just academically or “street” smarts, but just genuinely intelligent people. I can’t really define it, because it comes in many forms. I don’t believe I could be friends with someone that I didn’t think could talk to me on the same level. I surround myself with smart, respectable people. That may sound a little arrogant or discriminatory, but picking friends should be!

I’d love to write a list up of the people I truly consider to be my friends, but I’d hate to dissappoint so many of you out there (joke). So, in closing, thanks to all my friends. I consider our friendship very seriously, always remember that.