The Splendor of a Friend

Friend - A person whom one knows well and is fond of, an ally, supporter or sympathizer – Collins Pocket English Dictionary.
The saying ‘friends come and go’ is used frequently, especially when growing up. Fortunately, my friends have all stayed. The foundation of all our personalities I believe is strongly based on what we’ve learned and seen from those around us. My truest friends are the ones who speak like me, act like me and can eat like me. Saying this, it works the same other way around. My vocabulary consists of such sayings as “Like, can it be any colder?” or “HI…what’s up with that?” This is part of the cleverly established subliminal language of the G7 - also known as the ‘Group of 7’. We’re 7 women from similar walks of life with many different stories to tell. Our lives are like a reality show waiting to happen – all we need is to be discovered. We make a point to see each other on a bi-weekly, if not weekly, basis. The point of these get-togethers is to ‘share’ with the rest of the group, and give an update on what is happening in our lives. We laugh, we cry, we vent and we divulge. Although, I must admit, sometimes I feel like I share way more than my fellow 7-ers. Does everyone have to share the same amount? I guess it depends on how comfortable one feels about her situation and if it’s something they feel comfortable in discussing. This past weekend was our annual girls weekend away – this year’s theme was ‘Pig Fest 04’. And boy did we live up to the name. We ate like pigs, danced around a fire as though performing an Indian ritual & we baked (more like fried) on the beach with the aid of Hawaiian Tropic. In process of doing all this, we made sure to include the ‘sharing’ in our 2-day jaunt. We talked about having too much sex, or lack thereof, and described our individual experiences. It was a memorable weekend!
Each of us are on different pages in our lives. Some are married, others are dating, and one is already a mother. We’re there to give each other the best advice and support we can through whatever challenges and obstacles come our way – BUT – what if our advice to one another is too harsh? Does that make us bad friends if we give harsh advice? Or does it make us bad friends if we don’t give our most honest opinion whether or not it’s painfully bleak? I always make sure to be straightforward yet kind, that is the gift I bring to the Group of 7. I just hope my frankness doesn’t come across as being offensive and hurtful! ....Isn't honesty the best policy?