That's What a Friend For

Jordan had two friends he pretty much did everything with. Abel and Damian.

Abel was his day to day friend, they played softball together on a few different teams three days out of the week and whenever Jordan would get free tickets from his employer to either a concert or a sporting event, Abel was the first to call. Abel was the jokester always making people laugh. The two would meet up a few times a week to have drinks together at the local bar.

Then there was Damian who was much quieter and layed back, they didn't text each other almost every day like Jordan and Abel would but Damian was the one friend who helped Jordan move in to his new apartment without a single complaint and Jordan didn't even ask for help, Damian just showed up ready to work.

One evening, for a brief moment, Jordan's world collapsed. His car died out on a dark and rainy stretch of highway 2 hours outside of the city just as he received news that his freelance contract was abruptly terminated. Stranded, broke and spiraling into a panic attack, Jordan called Abel first. "Oh! That sucks!" said Abel over the loud music playing in the background from a club "We're here celebrating Katrina's birthday, make sure you call for a tow truck to get you towed out of there. Give me a call tomorrow and we'll go grab some drinks and have a good laugh about you being stranded. Hang in there buddy, you got this." Jordan hung up and felt smaller than before and it just let all the air out of his sails. He hesitated, than he called Damian. Damian picked up on the second ring. Jordan started to explain away his troubles, how he's stranded and about his job with a cracking voice. Damian didn't offer any platitudes like "Well everything happens for a reason", instead Jordan heard the jingling of keys in the background. "I'm putting my shoes on right now, send me your location. We'll get your car towed back home and worry about everything else in the morning. I'm going to grab us some coffee on the way to you and I will see you in 2 hours tops. Hang in there, we'll get you going in no time."

Abel was there for the life Jordan enjoyed, Damian was there for the life Jordan had to survive.

Everyday friends are not necessarily bad, it's just they share different boundaries than you would with a ride or die friend.

There is an old Samoan proverb that states "Uo mo aso lelei, Uso mo aso vale. Meaning Friends for the good days and brothers for the bad days.

Make sure you know how to differentiate the two because it will save you a whole lot of heartaches throughout your life.

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× Something to inspire as you go along...

When everything seems to be going against you, when the light at the end of your tunnel starts to dim, remember the airplane takes off against the wind, never with it.

•Resistance builds lift, meaning the very same forces that are pushing against you, will help you rise.

•Chaos is transitional, so whatever is falling apart, is just falling in to a new space

•Although you will experience some pain with whatever it is in your life that is pulling you down, just know and understand it is only for a very short time in a very long and fruitful life that you will live.

Written by: Pine