Aunty Maya said, “only equals make friends”. And for a while I argued with her about that.

Then I stopped trying to prove to her that since all people are equal, she must be dead wrong.

I began to listen to and more closely observe the world around me to try to understand her point of view.

Along that listening journey I happened to read Ecclesiastes 7:28, and there is where my big mental wrestle with Solomon began and where my questions about the purpose and origin of the Bible increased.

Ecclesiastes 7:28 NLT
Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman! 29But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

NOT ONE GOOD WOMAN??? What the fuck, Solomon??

And then I began to understand Aunty Maya. Only people whom we perceive to be our equals can truly be our friends. Only people whom we choose to accept and understand can truly be our friends.

It’s a you thing, not a them thing. It’s a me thing, not a them thing.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMr2Tv76a/

Then I heard about the Giver/Taker game.

We look at the people in our lives, and without deep thought we are to immediately identify them as either a giver or a taker.

Do a mental inventory of your friends. Into what category does your mind automatically file them?

At the end of that assess why you perceive them as you do, and ask yourself if you have truly been relating to each as a friend, or as a dependent, or as a saviour.

How does your energetic relationship with each person shift because of your perception before and after examining your thoughts about them?