Do you expect your best friend to be everything for you?

Probably not.

You go out with some friends. They are your entertainment buddies.

You share your deepest secrets with other friends. You know they are trustworthy.

And still you get advice from other friends. You know they are wise, and you trust their opinion.

This friend makes you laugh. You appreciate his humor.

This friend tells it like it is. You appreciate that she is candid.

You have travel buddies, eating buddies, movie buddies.

You have childhood friends who you can talk to after months, even years have passed, and pick up exactly where you left off.

You have friends who push you out of your comfort zone…

And friends you turn to when your heart is breaking.

The point is this:

You don’t expect any one friend to have everything you’re looking for in a friendship. Each person is unique and brings something new to the table, just like you do for them…

Why is it then…

to be everything for us?

Here’s what my wise friend Gabe says:

You’re not ever going to find everything you want exactly the way you want or expect it– men (and women) will fall short in at least one of the areas-spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally or socially…

It’s not about finding the perfect person, it’s about finding someone you want to share the journey with and grow with.

I thought that was great advice!

A significant other isn’t supposed to take the place of your current social circle. They should add to your life but not replace everyone and be your entire world.

Learn from each other.

Grow with each other.

But dont’ expect him/her to be your everything.

That’s why you have all kinds of friends!

And one of my tutees just added this piece of wisdom: (I’m at work, in between tutoring sessions!)

It’s so important to let go of your expectations for people to be something (or to be everything)

Why?

Because you have to accept a person exactly the way they are to truly love them.