ature onnections
By Minnie Kansman
Friendship
Frog and Butterfly
Credit: pixabay.com
“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson Making friends has always come easy for me. I think that is because I have always been willing to invest the time into being one. There is work involved in friendship—commitment, persistence, attention, and trust to name a few. I have found there is much to gain from these labors and true friends are like gemstones to be cherished and loved. Aristotle figured there were three kinds of friendships: 1. Friendships of Utility 2. Friendships of Pleasure 3. Friendships of the Good.
The first, friendships of utility, are people it is advantageous to know for our jobs or to make our lives easier. They usually come into our experience for a specific period of time. Sometimes utility friends move through the list to friendships of pleasure and even good. But most often, once the task is over the friendship is too. I have had this type of friendship in a past business partner. As much as I desired to take it to a deeper level, the relationship for them was only about the business we shared. This doesn’t mean it wasn’t a fruitful
alliance, it just ended when the business did. The second type of friend is social and for our pleasure. These are the people you hang out with to have a good time. My social friends often join me on my Nature Travel Adventure excursions, and I often add new social friends to my list after each trip. We laugh a lot, have mystical experiences together, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Sharing a common interest, like spiritual growth, helps to nourish and sustain these relationships over time.
Star Nations Magazine • July 2020 • 33
