I was talking with some teenagers the other day and was amazed to find out how many friends  they thought they had. At least until I started asking them to define real friends.. Turns out real friends are hard to find. The short of it is, I can count my real friends on my right hand and still have fingers left over to have a cigar. That because I dont define real friends as those people you know. Those are acquaintances. .

So I told the kids start with 5 names you consider real friends. Now take them off the list if they don’t make you better people when you are around them. Take them off the list of they wont call you out when you have done wrong. While you’re at it, take them off the list if they let money decide how good a friend you are to them. I bet your list is getting small isnt it? Would you stand up and fight for your real friend? And vice versa?

Finally, would they die in your place if they had the chance? Now the list got real small for everyone. My own son was in the group and I glanced and nodded, yes. son I would.

There are people in your life that need you as much as you need them. Cherish them , real friends are hard to find.