A tough task

[T]ONIGHT I TRIED to gather my thoughts on friendship.

It proved to be a tough task.

I could have gone with the original first few sentences I had for this post, but the more I thought about them the more I realized I had to change them.

I’d planned to open with some sunny sentiments.

Be a friend to everyone.

People may not always be friendly to you, but be friendly anyway.

Those words might be easy to preach, but it occurred to me they are much harder to practice.

I haven’t met many people with whom I could not find at least a half acre of common ground.

I think life is easier if people approach it with an aim to get along with each other, but the truth is it’s hard to be a friend to everyone.

There have been times in my life I did not want to be a friend.

There are people I’d find it hard to be a friend toward if they walked up to me on the street, because I know they’ve hurt someone I love.

A civil interaction isn’t too much to ask should such a person approach, but I don’t think I’m a good enough liar to pretend life’s all roses and rainbows.

I’m too old to pretend anyway.

I think there’s a little bit of difference in being friendly and being a friend, though.

A smile or a wave to a stranger on the street is friendly, but it’s not pouring part of your life into another person you call a friend.

On the other hand, a small gesture like a smile or a wave might make a big difference in someone’s life.

I started this post differently than I’d planned, and it looks like it will end a little differently, too.

It’s hard to be a friend to everyone, but try to be friendly.

You may make the world a better place, or at least make somebody’s day a little brighter.

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This post is a response to Sue’s prompt, which is “friendly.”