How to Determine Who Your true Friends Are

There are times in our lives that we fell that we are in need of companionship. We feel that we need others that feel the same way we do or that may challenge us to be better. We look for encouragement from people other than our family. At times like this you are tempted to put more faith in friends. But do you know if they are your true friends? Here's some suggestions to help you determine if they are "true-blue" friends:

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. "We all know "fair-weather" friends are no good." A "fair-weather" friend is just that, they're there when the times are going good and all is well. As soon as things go bad or you need emotional support, your fair weathered friend will be hard to find and not available.
   
   Quote taken from http://peoplerelationships.syl.com/essenceoffriendship/realfriends
2. Then we have "know-it-all" friends, they are always telling us why our life is not right and how things will turn out unless we do exactly what they say. They are motherly and they will smother us. They, however, will not ask for your input or advice. "In short, friends cannot be your family, they can't be your project, they can't be your psychiatrist. But they can be your friends, which is plenty."
   
   Quote taken from http://peoplerelationships.syl.com/essenceoffriendship/realfriends
3. So what is the remedy? In "Madea goes to jail" writer Tyler Perry states this: "Friends can be compared to trees. There are friends that are like the leaves, these would be equal to "fair-weather". There are there for a while but then they are gone when the season change. Then you have those that are like the branches, they are more durable than the leaves but eventually they will not be able to support all the circumstances you go through in life and will break away."
   
   Now this is not a bad thing but you must understand that not all friend are met to be around all the time. There will come times where you will outgrow some of your friends or you may have a friend come into your life for just a certain time and once they have accomplished what they were suppose to accomplish in your life they will move on. Let them go. The most important fact is leaves and branches grow back. These friends will be replaced in time.
4. Back to Tyler Perry's definition of friends being like trees: "Then you have those that are like the trunk of the tree, these are similar to your life long friends." They will be there when times are tough, when you lose your job, when you have bad relationships and spats with your family. These friends are few and far in-between. Just look around and see those that are there for you in your times of need. The ones that will step out of their own comfort to help you. They will laugh, cry, get angry, protect, tell the truth and the list goes on. They add to you in more ways then one. They are a support system to you. They listen and their advice comes from what is best for you with out self motives.
5. Finally Perry states that you have friends that are like the root of the tree. These friends are friends that are sent to aid you in anyway necessary. They add quality to your life and those around you. They are the ones that know you need something and they do it without you asking them. They are the ones that are your friend even when everyone else is questioning your character. They never change, they are always the same.
   
   Simply put how to determine your real friends, look at your life and see who has been there for you through thick and thin. Besides your family, you will find that you have a few friends that are true-blue.
6. Here's a poem I found to assist you in your determination:
   
   A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
   A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps herself.
   A simple friend has never seen you cry.
   A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.
   A simple friend doesn't know your parent or children's first names.
   A real friend has their phone numbers in her address book.
   A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
   A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.
   A simple friend hates it when you call after she has gone to bed.
   A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.
   A simple friend seeks to talk with you about their problems.
   A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.
   A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
   A real friend could blackmail you with it (but wouldn't).
   A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
   A real friend calls you after you had a fight. (Even if it was with them).
   A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
   A real friend expects to always be there for you!
   
   
   Poem taken from http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/01/25/the_real_friend_test_how_to_understand_who_your_real_friends_are.htm

Tips & Warnings

• Fair-weather friends come and go.
• Know it all friends may not have your best interest in mind.
• Real friends are few.
• When a friendship ends it may be the best thing for you.
• Do not hang on to friends that just take and take.
• Be careful how much you share with simple friends.