When True Friendships Outlive Differences

They say love is a beautiful thing, and so is a true friendship that is built on a solid rock. And to me, experiencing a real friendship is part of the most awesome experience of life. Looking at the household that I grew up in and my community, I got to realize very early that having a good friendship is like having a good family. But as time passed by, I also unlocked another stage of friendship: that to keep it going, I need to see beyond the happy moments and laughter, and I need to start knowing how to accommodate our differences, know how to tolerate some things, and exercise patience. There was a time I had a close friend; our beliefs were the opposite of each other. From cultural background to real beliefs. He is a Muslim, and I am a Christian. I almost believed that those things I mentioned were going to separate us. After all, some things like religion, different tribes, cultural beliefs, and political party arguments are things that easily cause separation between two people and create havoc in relationships and homes, but to my greatest surprise, we argue, but what is keeping our friendship more solid is the respect we have for each other, because we both attach importance to that as our core value.  During all these arguments, we always try not to win but to share our opinions that matter, which has made our friendship more connected and focused on having each other's back during difficult moments and the comfort of sharing and learning from our differences. And all these things that I have mentioned have made me realize that friendship survives on understanding the person who I refer to as my friend, and that it will not thrive on those things that are not necessary. Our friendship has gotten to a point that we understand each other by respecting eachother's decisions and not mirroring them every time, and I have also realized that the difference between us has enriched our friendship in a way that we see the world around us differently. I am not saying that there will not be some ups and downs in a friendship. Of course, some of these friendships will be filled with manipulation from both friends, toxic behavior that might cause harm, insults, or even steady negotiations and a I don't care attitude. All I can just say is that both parties should just let go for their own benefit.  Just like the example of me and one of my friends that I gave above, because we chose to believe in different things does not mean that our friendship should now end, no. This life that we are living in is already filled with different uncertainties, so having a good friendship is also a way to keep myself sane, not another war zone. Because when it is all said and done, what I truly believe matters most in a friendship is a good understanding of one another coupled with being loyal, being respectful, and being loving. There might be more values, but when these four core ingredients that I mentioned are present, believe me, they will outline those differences, and that friendship can even become one of the greatest blessings that you pray for. And to conclude this Hive Learner prompt, what I have also realized is that friendship does not mean that we are from the same culture or behave in the same way; it is all about choosing to accept our differences with grace and appreciate the bond over perfection. --- Thank you for reading. > _{Images created by MetaAi}