FRIENDSHIPS

Temitope Praisingchild Aiyedun in this special book titled “FRIENDSHIPS”, encapsulated the term, definition and characteristics of FRIENDS in all ramifications. She has been able to explore the in-depth and true meaning of what a FRIEND connotes.In this rare collection, Temitope described what a friend is, she alluded to the fact that it is a person you know very well and like, and who is not usually a member of your family, she went further to analyze the use and majorly the misuse of the word FRIEND.She analyses the attributes of a Friend as loving, caring, gentle, kind, listening, non-judgmental, interested in your happiness, a cheerleader, quick to forgive, loves to share, giving and ready to make sacrifices for your happiness.Temitope wrote from a place of experience, you can feel that she is really practicing what she wrote.She gave a formula on how to make a friend and an insight of what friends talk about, how they talk, where and when they talk, including body languages and the numerous unspoken words and communications between true friends, stressing that silence between friends is also a form of communication.Trust is a very important ingredient in building an everlasting relationship in friendship and it comes with time. Temitope explains gingerly with caution how one should be wary in doing this and not fritter away your ‘trust’ on nonentities.She encourages in the book self-love and the fundamental principle of befriending oneself before venturing outside, knowing and understanding your idiosyncrasies and accepting you for who you are is an attribute that will make it easier for you to socialize and make friends.You usually attract the kind of friend that you are, which also doesn’t preclude having friends that are not like you but a complement to you.Usually, friends are loyal and it cut across age, race, gender and religion. Your friend will always stay through thick and thin, and typically true friends are made for the days of adversity.Its indeed a great privilege when you have a true friend who speaks the truth to you always, feels you, teaches you, influences you positively, motivates you to be who you are, helps you achieve your vision and goals, celebrate your wins and gives you a pat on the back when you lose.She also gave a word of caution in “Friends” to avoid, when your relationship is getting toxic, vehemently competitive, jealousy, back biting, gossip, tale bearers, self-centered, quarrelsome, greedy, uncaring and un-sharing, avoid them as much as possible.She classifies friends into different categories such as best friend, family friends, friends with benefits, timely friends, short term friends, friends who visits, friends that touch, occasional friends etc. she gave a well-balanced analysis of each in this beautiful book.She concluded with an important need on how to set boundaries between friends and gave us a peep on how friendship can evolve from one level to another.In conclusion the author has been able to compile a very educative, informative and enlightening book in the very common but rarely discussed subject “Friends”I recommend this book to all and sundry with great emphasis on our youths and most importantly the teenagers. “Be the Friend You want” Read more