Picture Perfect Friendships: Myth or Reality?

It's no secret that I watch a lot of TV. I enjoy TV. I enjoy movies. I enjoy the DVR - best invention ever! I also enjoy books, though I haven't read many lately. I was watching the Sex and the City movie  and it got me to thinking about friendship. Do movies and books help us set unrealistic expectations for our friendships? It's an interesting question.
I grew up reading the Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High, I loved watching Living Single, Friends and Sex and the City. I'm all about running out of the house at midnight to come to the rescue of a friend in need. But is it realistic? These shows/books paint pictures of friends that accept you for who you are, consider your feelings, have your back no matter what, stop what they're doing at the drop of a hat to run to your aide, are supportive, give you tough love when you need it, keep your secrets, celebrate your successes; they're just about perfect. Yes, there are fights but the friends always make up. Each person sees and admits where they were in error and they apologize. It's wonderful. But is it reality?

Let me do a personal assessment of my friends. Do they:

• Accept me for who I am? Check.

• Consider my feelings? Some yes, some no.

• Have my back no matter what? Check.

• Stop what they're doing at the drop of a hat to run to my aide? Uhh No.

• Support me? Sure

• Give me tough love when I need it? A couple do.

• Keep my secrets? Yes. At least I think so. lol

• Celebrate my successes? A couple do. With the others it depends on how they're feeling about themselves at the time.

• Admit when they're wrong and apologize. Mostly. One never does.

I guess I'm doing ok on the friend analysis. By the way I actually do all of these things for most of my friends. Ok, maybe I don’t stop what I’m doing at the drop of a hat but it’s pretty darn close. Naturally, I’d get upset when they didn’t always reciprocate. I used to be upset about the areas in my friendships that didn't match up with the books, shows, and movies. At some point I realized that they are books, shows, and movies, which is why I enjoy them. They are not supposed to be real life. Life is a little messier. Of course, if you have friendships that are not living up to your expectations you may see those friendships fading and/or changing. I am experiencing that in a few friendships right now and I'm ok with it. For once, I am embracing change. I think we'll end up exactly where we're supposed to be. As the saying goes some people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.