Don't rely TOO much on friends

While we can say that our closest friends are usually reliable, we should refrain from depending on them all the time.

Unfortunately, even they can let us down every once in a while.

I'm sure you have at least one who comes to you in times of need, but seemingly vanishes when he or she no longer needs you. Then, when you try arranging outings with the person or need a favor, they're always busy.

It really grates on me when friends act this way. Truthfully, those you call true friends should not be so flaky.

A friendship is a two-way street. When only one person shows interest, it makes the other person feels as though they're being taken for granted.

I don't care how busy you are. When you value someone else's company, you find a way to make time for them, even if it's a quick lunch or jog around a nearby park.

Some people are all about give and take. Little do they realize that in order for a friendship to remain strong, there has to be reciprocation -- a sense of "we scratch each other's backs."

Life gets in the way sometimes, so it's understandable if a friend can't be there every single time you need them. But if leaving you hanging becomes the rule rather than the exception, it raises a big question: Does the person truly value the friendship?

We try to give our buddies the benefit of the doubt, especially those we've known for a long time. But if you start to feel like your good nature is being exploited, you should put a stop to it immediately. And if your friend refuses to change his or her ways for the betterment of the friendship, do yourself a favor and nix the friendship once and for all. You can find better friends than that.

Even our closest friends may not always meet our expectations. We might assume they'll think or act a certain way in a given situation, and it turns out they prove us wrong.

That's why you shouldn't become overly reliant on any one friend. Sooner or later, every friend you have will disappoint you. Whether you want the friendship to continue after that is all up to you.

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