Principles of Friendship! (by Al Petty) This is my philosophy and I always live by it! If you have a true friend that you value and want to remain friends with, you might consider the following principles: Accept your friend the way he or she is. Do not try to change them to your way of life or way of thinking. You will only drive them away! Be willing to confide in him or her with your wildest dreams and most personal feelings and secrets. Be willing to listen to their’s with interest. NEVER repeat these things to anyone else! Nor belittle them. Do not constantly burden them with your unsolved problems. But be willing to help with their’s. Always be 100% honest with him or her and never take advantage of their failings or weaknesses. Allow him or her their freedom of Religion. Do not try to impose your beliefs on them, nor criticize their own belief or non-belief. The same applies to their political beliefs. They should be allowed to vote from their heart with no input from you. Always bring an up beat positive attitude to the friendship. Do not always be negative about everything. Soon your negativity will fall on deaf ears. Never gossip about him or her. If you can not say something good about them, refrain from saying anything. Always expect to bring more to the friendship than you expect to take away from the friendship. With this attitude you will usually end up with more. Do not keep repeating the same old things to your friend. Although they are probably sympathetic with your situation, they will soon tire of hearing the same old complaints and problems over and over again. Be completely unselfish towards your friend. If you pray, always include your friends, their best interests, health, peace, prosperity, security and safety in your prayers. If you don’t pray always have good thoughts and wishes for them. Appreciate him or her and everything they do for you, Let them know how important their friendship is with your words and actions. All your friends that are human beings are subject to making honest mistakes. Always be willing to show forgiveness if this happens if they did not intentionally try to hurt you. Finally, remember the Golden Rule! Only do to him or her what you would have done to yourself!!! If you are in agreement, please forward this to all your friends. You can be assured that if you experience good luck or bad luck, that it will have nothing to do with this message weather you forward it or not. From your friend, Al Petty. |
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