• What does friendship mean to you ?

In my opinion, friendship is more than just a type of relationship, it's an emotion. An emotion, a feeling you have for someone you love. I like to describe it as an emotion, because friendship has no limits or boundaries. You can be friends with the person you share your life with, friends with your nearest and dearest, friends with your brothers and sisters and so on.

 

•  Has it always meant the same throughout your life ?

My vision of friendship has evolved with me. It has changed, it has questioned itself, it has been disappointed, it has forgiven, it has understood, it has hesitated, it has started again. Depending on what I've experienced, the people I've met, it develops, and it's an ongoing process.

 

• How old are you now ?

29 

 

• Could you break down the evolution of your idea of friendship throughout different periods of your life ?

a) middle school / high school

b) university

c) first years of working life

d) the most recent stage of your life

 

Without going into the various categories one by one, I think we need to distinguish two key elements in my vision of friendship. 1) Trust 2) Reciprocity.

Without these two elements, it's hard to build a healthy friendship. And these two criteria are still indispensable to me today. And I mean friendship, not “buddies” or “acquaintances”... Having said that, I'd say that over time I've come to understand that every friendship is different, and that you shouldn't expect too much of the other person. And that goes for life in general too.

 

• Do you value more romantic relationships than friendships ? Or if you cannot answer this in a straightforward way, could you explain how these two play a role in your life ? Basically here you can write your thoughts on both. 

For me, love relationships can only be fulfilling if we are fulfilled ourselves. Happy and comfortable in our own skin, our energy, our “self” will be at its best and “ready” to give and receive in a love relationship. Many studies have shown that friendship is an important component of well-being. For me, my friends are indispensable, they give me as much as I give them 

 

• What is the definition of a good friend to you ?

A person with whom I feel comfortable. Basically, there's no definition, just humans with whom I feel and share experiences, memories, laughter and moments. I think that sometimes there's no need to put words to things that are unique.

 

• Would you say that you are a good friend ?

I'M THE BEST. (ahah kidding). But I do the best I can, and I think that once someone does the best they can, even if it would never be perfect, intention is key.

 

• Has it always been the case ?

From the moment I put my trust in someone, that person is important to me. I do my best. But I'm only human. And I think I've obviously disappointed sometimes. I think the most important thing is to express yourself, to tell the other person what's wrong.

 

• If not, what made you change ?

.

 

• Would you say that the way you first saw friendship (its role, its purpose, i.e, what it meant) was influenced by how your parents - or your primary caregiver- interacted with their friends ? (Please do take a moment to think about it)

Yes, of course. But I'd say it's the other way around. The more time goes by, the more similarities I see. When I was younger, I tended not to do what my family did to “find my identity”. But beyond the way my family interacts with its friends, in my opinion, it's above all the way they brought me up that has influenced my relationship with friends.

 

• How do you feel when you are with your close friends ? 

Good. Like I said before. Friends are good friends. Laughter, complicity, simplicity and that's Beautiful, with a cap B.

 

• Does it match the definition of friendship you mentioned in the first question ?

Yes

 

• What are your thoughts on the notion of ‘efforts’ put in relationships in general ? And in friendship in particular ?

I think it's important to be demanding on important issues that can weaken or jeopardize the relationship. But as I was saying, one mustn't expect too much of the other person. It becomes bad to a point and can even be toxic. It's important to understand that the other person is different from you, and that he or she can't accommodate all your wishes and demands.

 

• Here you can add any thoughts that you would like to share about this theme.

I hope we will be friends forever my dear Mistou <3

 

When you were answering these questions, I bet you had specific people in mind. So please as soon as you are done answering these, tell your friends that you love them :) 

​Yes! And it's really great because it allowed me to have this very pleasant little moment, with different thoughts for each of my friends!