You Know, One of THOSE Friends...

We have all said it...we all have them...one of "those" friends.  You know the type.  You love them yet you sort of hate them at times.  They tell you when you are being whiny, ridiculous, wrong, a jerk.  You say you are going to do something and if you bail out, man, they ride you like nobody's business.  They aren't afraid to get in your face.  Quite frankly, they piss you off.  You ask yourself why you keep going back for more of this crap, that you have enough on your plate without their input.

Then, you stop and think for a minute.  Why are you mad?  Because they pointed out things about you that aren't flattering, pleasant or nice...and you know they are right.  Hearing such things is never fun, it hurts, it makes you angry and you hate it.  So why DO we keep such people around?

They don't leave.  They won't leave.  We can't get rid of them no matter how hard we try.  They are always there.  No matter what.  Yes, those "people" that drive you up a wall are also the ones that are there to share your joys, your triumphs, your happiness.  They are there to pick up the pieces when something bad happens...be it being stood up for a date, not getting that job or something way more devastating.  Those "people" aren't annoying.  They are true friends.  They are there when you need them, they are there when you want them.  They say what you want to hear and they say what you don't want to hear.  They are there and they speak.  They are there and say nothing.  They know when to listen.  They know exactly how many times you are going to ask how stupid am I and at that magic number, look at you and say, enough wallowing.  Shut up and get over it.   They risk your anger and hurt feelings to tell you something you don't want to hear, because they know it's for your own good.  They want their friend to be the best person possible.

Next time one of "those friends" says something you don't like, stop, listen and reflect.  Are they always there, no matter what?  If the answer is yes, no matter how hard it is, listen to what they have to say.  It's important.

I have a bunch of "those" people in my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.