I am a firm believer in surrounding yourself with the right kind of people. And I think that for a lot of us, we tend to build up our group of friends and acquaintances and then never pare down. There are sometimes when I really have to examine my inner circle. Who do you really care the most about? Who really cares the most about you?
There are times when "bad influences" plague our lives--those that knock us down or count us out or don't count on us at all. There are those that pull us down to their level or down paths that we don't want to go. There are people that don't listen, don't pay attention, or don't care. And those are the people that, though we might not realize it, are hurting us the most.
I've recently begun to eliminate those types of people from my life--the "rainy day" friends who float in and out of my life, the people who show no interest in my wellbeing, and those people who I know, deep down, do not align with the type of person I want to be. And believe me, though it might feel odd and unusual to be getting rid of these so-called "friends" (I mean, really, who wants to claim that they have less friends?), you won't believe the difference it makes. Instead of having more so-so friends, you are left with those who really, truly care--the group, no matter how small, that will always have your back.
There are people in our lives that make us laugh or smile or that just make us feel good. There are those that pick us up when we're down, ask what's wrong, and wait for the answer, listening with genuine care. We benefit from them just as much as they benefit from us, making us feel needed and appreciated all at the same time. They support you and love you and they're here for you no matter what. Appreciate these people in your life. There are true friends, ones that will make you better and happier and more successful. And you really can't ask for anything better than that.
