About
Why is this blog titled Unconditional Friendship? To answer this requires us first to have a common understanding of the term “friendship”. Most people’s understanding of friendship is a list of requirements and conditions set up by preconceived ideas and assumptions that if not met, mean that the transgressor is no longer acting like a friend. The most common preconceived ideas about friendship are that the two people involved have similar interests, beliefs and ways of looking at the world. “Close” friends share all of their likes and dislikes and even their deepest secrets with each other. “Close” friends are willing to do almost anything for the other person, including supporting the person in all manner of behaviors without consideration of the consequences of that persons actions. There are also those so-called “friendships”, where those involved pride themselves on never having any real conflict and see it as a sign of success that they are always able to be so NICE to each other.
How can a relationship like those described above truly be called “friendships”? A relationship without conflict could only work if BOTH people are already perfect and therefore having nothing to learn and no weaknesses to overcome. If on the other hand the people involved do have weaknesses, then how can you call someone a friend who is supporting your weaknesses? How can you call yourself a friend if you are supporting someone in acting like an arsehole? You may say you are a friend, but your actions speak for themselves in saying that you will support that person in being ignorant or destructive or in acting like a victim etc. as long as they also support your own bullshit. A relationship like that can hardly be called a friendship, but would more accurately be called partners in crime. Sadly, this is the majority understanding of what “friendship” is all about.
So what is true friendship all about? True friendship means having the WILLINGNESS to support the other person in their strengths, but not in their weaknesses. I stress willingness, because it is not always easy to not support someone in their weaknesses. This situation inevitably brings up conflict between the two people concerned. A conflict that must be resolved in one form or another if the friendship is to continue. This also brings with it the need to handle ones fear, because if the two friends cannot resolve the conflict, then the relationship, the friendship, is to all intents and purposes over for the time being. This may sound harsh, but to touch upon true friendship leaves one changed for the rest of one’s life, because it is REAL.
This blog is an attempt by this administrator to learn how to become a true friend to humanity through the medium of disseminating the work of Théun Mares. By doing so I hope to support those who visit this site in their strengths, but not in their weaknesses. Supporting them in their strengths by helping them to see their relationships and their place in this world with greater clarity. Not supporting them in their weaknesses by challenging them on their preconceived ideas about how they see relationships and life in general. This friendship, as is the nature of true friendship, is unconditional. It is unconditional, because I do this without any expectations on the part of the reader to accept the truths contained herein. I know what I know, because I have LIVED the knowledge contained on this blog. I stand firm in this knowledge and hope to in turn give others the courage to stand firm in what they can see with their own two eyes and FEEL within their hearts.
