Friendships - Does Difference In Wealth Hurt Or Help?
By: cdmohatta
Introductory comments
By Royane Real
Author of “Your Guide to Finding Friends, Making Friends and Keeping Friends”
In the following article by cd mohatta, the author explores an interesting aspect of friendship. He asks whether or not it is necessary for friends to share the same background of wealth and status, or whether we can really become friends with people who are very different from us.
The author points out that when we are children, we feel free to play quite happily with other children and we do not care whether those children are richer than us or poorer than us. We probably don’t care what their parents do for a living, or what race or religion they are.
As we grow older, we start to pay attention to such things, and it affects our choices in friends.
Yet, there are countless examples of people who have managed to make deep and lasting friendships despite the fact that the people involved may have very different social status, very different incomes, or they may belong to different races and live in different parts of the world.
Why does this happen?
The reason is that there is a deep part of ourselves that is not the same as our outward identity. This deepest part of ourselves is timeless and exists whether or not we are rich or poor, successful or not successful. This deepest part of ourselves can connect with the deepest part of those we meet.
If we choose to, we can make deep friendships with other people no matter what age difference there seems to be between us, no matter what the difference in status or wealth.
Maybe children are right. Maybe those differences such as status and wealth really don’t matter. Those are just illusions that we learn to believe in. Maybe it is more important to look for those people with whom we can deeply connect.
( The introductory comments which appear above are by Royane Real. I’m the author of the popular book “Your Guide to Finding Friends, Making Friends and Keeping Friends” You can learn more about how to create good friendships in my book available at http://www.lulu.com/real )
Feature article:
Friendships - Does Difference In Wealth Hurt Or Help?
By: cdmohatta
During our school days, most of us are not concerned about the families our friends come from. One of our classmates may be from the richest family in the world, but that would not make much difference in our friendship.
This thought process changes as we grow. We become conscious of our social standing and compare that to our friends as we grow. Some friendships do not survive because of a wide difference in the wealth of the families, whereas some friendships thrive irrespective of all these factors. They are like fairy tale friendships.
Should we look around and make friends with people similar to us in wealth and other social parameters? Can a gardener's son make friend with the son /daughter of the owner of the mansion? Is that good? Will that friendship survive?
Let us examine. Friendship depends on the personal equation between two people. It is an emotional bond that does not depend upon money or other such external factors. On the positive side, if you are a poor person and if your best friend is a very rich person, that psychology of money can help you become rich yourself.
If money and social status were to decide friendships, then all rich people would be very good friends of each other and friendships would similarly thrive amongst the poor class and the middle-income class.
Fortunately this is not so. As I said earlier friendship is an emotional bond and wealth or social status does not count if the attachment is strong. One important condition needs to be fulfilled in such relationship. Both the friends have to ignore these factors and carry on.
If the conscious feelings of differences surface and are not handled, the friendship will die. Even otherwise, very strong friendships will face a lot of pressure from the families.
If the bond is strong, nothing will make a difference. If the bond is weak, nothing else counts in a friendship. That friendship will die on its own.
C.D.Mohatta is a content writer for screen-savers, desktop wallpaper, and egreetings. He writes on spirituality, motivation, love, management, etc. One can download screen-savers or send free ecards at these links: friendship wallpapers, friendship greetings and funquizcards.
Article source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com
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