Ten Truths About Friendship by Jennifer Jacobson

“Ten Truths About Friendship”
A guest blog by Jennifer Jacobson

author of The Complete History of Why I Hate Her out this April

Writing The Complete History of Why I Hate Her offered lots of opportunity to reflect on the nature of friendship. Here are ten things I believe today:

1. Friendship seldom grows out of obligation. If you think you should be friends with someone, don’t bother. The desire to spend time with someone is the only reason to be friends.

2. A friend not only supports who you are, but brings out the best in you.

3. A genuine friend knows that when one of you succeeds, you both succeed.

4. Friendships change. Not all friendships were meant to last a lifetime. Or perhaps Saint Jerome was correct when he said: "The friendship that can cease has never been real."

5. Competition in tennis or scrabble is a joy. Competition for center court in friendship spells trouble.

6. In the movie, “Away We Go”, Verona (Maya Rudolph) requests that when dealing with their soon-to-be born daughter, Burt (John Krasinski) “be a really good listener and fight her fight.” Isn’t this what we really want from a BFF?

7. It’s impossible to be friends with a narcissist. Truly. Impossible.

8. If your friend gossips about others, she gossips about you too.

9. In true friendship, faults are easily overlooked.

10. There’s no greater comfort that a trusted friend.

Thanks for the opportunity to appear as a guest on your blog!

My very best wishes –

Jennifer