On 8 January 2008 morning, I was waiting for Pak Chiu Sheng Bin at Sun Plaza, Medan. We had an appointment at 11.30am to have lunch at Super Kitchen Restaurant on LG floor. He was taking 1350 flight to Penang. While waiting, it came across my mind that those people passing by in front of me were all strangers to me. None of them was my friend until Pak Chiu arrived. Then I suddenly realized that the friends I have are actually very few in number.
Even though we may claim to have a thousand friends but if we feel that we have none to spare, then the thousand in number is still inadequate. We have to make new friends in areas of our residence, our workplace and marketplace and ensure that they keep growing in number. Nevertheless, we will have to choose our friends wisely. Select those who are with us and not against us.
Obviously, birds of feathers flock together. We choose friends of same dream and same vision. We select friends who have same purpose in life and are going in the same direction with us. We are able to click closely with friends with same hobbies and share more on same interests. Make friends with those who can give us constant support and big hope and are able to lift up our spirit. These are the people with whom we want to expand our relationship.
Mix with the right type of friends. Truly, it pays to keep the right company. Spend more time with friends who have the same philosophy and discipline like us. They are able to influence us to move on and change our way of thinking with positive words and encouragement. They are able to help us to achieve our goals in life.
Gather a group of people as our friends or advisors who are able to assist us along our career path. They should include teacher, lecturer, doctor, dentist, accountant, engineer, banker, lawyer, tax consultant, insurance agent and of course, fellow planters. Do make friends with mechanics, plumbers, electricians, air-conditioner technicians and other handy men. How true it is that “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” We never know when we need their service and assistance.
In Proverbs 18:24, the word of God teaches us that “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Be friendly all the times and there are surely some close friends whom we can call “brothers”.
However, God warns us in 1 Corinthians 15:33,” Bad company corrupts good character.” Disassociate ourselves from people who are not right for us.
Happiness is….
• receiving an unexpected phone call from a childhood friend
• receiving sms from good friends during weekends
• receiving emails from many friends
• receiving a postcard from a close friend on an oversea trip
• looking at photographs of old pals
• drinking coffee with buddies in a kopitiam during weekends
• reading comments posted by friends, pals & buddies in my blog
