I came up with the following analogy several years ago:
Each person is like a glass of alcohol (this is off to a good start already, isn't it?). So, you take three people; one is like a glass with Vodka; one is like a glass with Kahlua; one is like a glass with cream (OK, cream isn't alcohol, but I need it for the analogy). Each person-glass contains her own substance and some empty space. Each one brings something unique to the table. Still, each one alone is incomplete. However, together, they can become so much more than what they are alone: the Kahlua pours some of herself into Vodka; Vodka pours some of himself into Kahlua, and together they become Black Russians. They have given and taken, and as a result, each has become more complicated, more nuanced, more complete. Still, they each have empty room in the glass, so Cream pours some of herself into them, and they pour themselves into her, and they all become White Russians (this would be even more fun making Long Island Iced Tea).
Friendship is like this analogy: each person contains something unique to offer the world and some empty space to receive the world. When we give and receive from friends, we become more whole, more complete people. Conversely, when we fail to receive, we remain limited. When we fail to give, we deny others an opportunity to become more. I have allowed my friends to shape my life in various ways, and I am a better person thanks to all of you (seriously, I'd be even worse if it weren't for your influence).
Cheers
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
That is a fun analogy. As analogies can do, this one misses another aspect of this that I think you would also appreciate. Unfortunatly I can't think of an analogy keep what yours has while including this...
Somehow, the glasses need to react to their contents. Think of it like a time-sensitive, porous material. It is in the nature of this kind of glass that it reacts to its contents. When the contents diminish, so does the glass. As they expand, so does the glass. Futher, the glass will also contract if its contents goes unchanged for too long.
Hopefully you can see what I'm getting at. Being enriched by others' influence under mutual exchange of friendship (love of that sort), not only do we change in character, we also change in our capacity for further improvement. In addition failing to make positive change is as bad as a negative change.
Post a Comment