Paying heed to friendship. Being social animals as a quality of our nature as stated by Aristotle, we go thru life accumulating a vastness of relationships. Some are meaningless and dissipate early on, others develop into unbreakable bonds. And like other meaningful aspects of our lives, is it important to reflect on the nature of our relationships with others. In doing so, we may come to find confusion in a rational sense as to why we allow some of these to exist. And as with any reflection, the deeper one goes the more uncomfortable the experience. And in my own reflection, it has led me to realize that my relationship with others that existed, exist, and I desire are manifestations from the relationship that I have with myself. I begin to see the patterns, and in seeing them come to break them. This is confronting deception within one's self. I have had relationships where I allowed others to manipulate, use, control, deceive, even betray myself. And in my humility, I openly admit that I have been guilty of the same in my relation with others. And with this empathy, I have come not to judge others when treated in this fashion, for I was once he/she. So going within, and developing deep love, compassion for myself more and more, this becomes the priority of any/all relationships that I seek with anyone, and it is my highest gift that I offer just the same. And this testament is one of gratitude for those that have stuck with me, though I may have caused them suffering thru my ignorance at various times thru the years before arriving to that point of awareness. Yours is an expression of genuine love, compassion, friendship. My deepest acknowledgment, gratitude and my offering is one in the same. Thank you, friend. Love