Relationships are transactional and for their continuation, some conditions are set and the expectations for the conditions to be met keep on growing over time with the increasing conditions in a desperate attempt to fill the void within. When the need for the transaction ends so does the relationship. This institution is fine when restricted to survival but when one searches for fundamental things like love, joy and peace in relationships of any form it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

When you let others control the strings of your sanity then you will become like Pinocchio, but even he wished to be a real boy. Once you have got the strings of your life In your hands then you can live your life in a truly joyful, loving and peaceful manner. But since not everyone is fulfilled within, one has to be a friend to others and that can only happen when one has unlocked the fountain of joy within and is just there to share the wonderful feeling and doesn’t need to extract it from anything or anyone. The intention is to not create dependence rather it’s to free people from the shackles that one oneself has put on while blaming others which can only happen when one is willing.

Being friendly is not about somebody hence what the other person is like is malarkey. A true friend has no enemies, someone might develop enmity towards you but it's of no relevance as it doesn't hinder one from sharing love as the love of a true friend is unconditional. Ask yourself, ‘are you friendly no matter what?’ some might say I was friendly but they did this or they are like that, rubbish! In friendship there is no give and take there is only sharing. To be a true friend you just have to be three things sincere, serene and sweet.

Sincerity is to live with integrity and not lead a double life. Being serene is to be balanced, if you are not balanced you will turn into a mess and sweetness is the core of being a friend. If you are bitter you will always intend to harm but when you are sweet you are caring, you are loving and you are sharing. This doesn’t mean that you keep on turning the other cheek cause that would imply encouragement of ill intent. The act you perform may be bitter but the intent must be sweet as that’s the nature of a friend.