FRIEND OR AQUAINTANCE?
According to Facebook, I have 439 friends. Sounds great, right? Well, curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to verify that number.
• 10 of those are immediate family—so, down to 429.
• 4 aren’t even human.
• 48? I have no clue who they are.
•
Now, I’m at 377. Not bad, but then I applied the actual definition of friend to my list. That’s when things got real—I narrowed it down to about 8 to 10 people. Eye-opening, to say the least.
I won’t list those names (I’m simple, not stupid) but feel free to guess where you stand. That leaves me with around 367 acquaintances, which surprisingly doesn’t bother me. If anything, I feel grateful for the solid friendships I do have.
Friendships evolve. Some people who were once friends may now be acquaintances, and that’s okay. Life happens—people move, start families, or drift in different directions. It doesn’t mean there’s animosity; it’s just part of the journey. True friendships are rare, and I’ve realized they require effort from both sides. I plan to nurture the ones I have, but I also know I can’t control whether the other person reciprocates.
Acquaintances—More Important Than I Realized
At this point, it’s clear I have a fair number of acquaintances—likely more than Facebook suggests, since not all of them are on social media. I don’t send many friend requests, probably out of fear they won’t be accepted (hey, just being honest).
Acquaintances range from people I barely know to those who are almost friends. Take Brandt, for example—I instinctively called him a friend, but realistically, we were mid-level acquaintances. This morning, I found myself discussing this whole concept with Penthouse Dude and Thig (as one does). After some back-and-forth, I finally reached a conclusion.
Friends come and go—some may even come back. Maintaining a friendship takes effort from both sides, and one person alone can destroy it. It’s hard work, but when it’s mutual, it’s something special.
Acquaintances, on the other hand, are essential. They fill gaps, provide support in different ways, and sometimes, they turn into friends. Looking at my current situation, I realize I couldn’t navigate it without my acquaintances. They’re more valuable than I ever gave them credit for.
To All My Acquaintances—Thank You.
You play a role in my life, and I appreciate it more than ever.
A Simple Man
• 10 of those are immediate family—so, down to 429.
• 4 aren’t even human.
• 48? I have no clue who they are.
•
Now, I’m at 377. Not bad, but then I applied the actual definition of friend to my list. That’s when things got real—I narrowed it down to about 8 to 10 people. Eye-opening, to say the least.
I won’t list those names (I’m simple, not stupid) but feel free to guess where you stand. That leaves me with around 367 acquaintances, which surprisingly doesn’t bother me. If anything, I feel grateful for the solid friendships I do have.
Friendships evolve. Some people who were once friends may now be acquaintances, and that’s okay. Life happens—people move, start families, or drift in different directions. It doesn’t mean there’s animosity; it’s just part of the journey. True friendships are rare, and I’ve realized they require effort from both sides. I plan to nurture the ones I have, but I also know I can’t control whether the other person reciprocates.
Acquaintances—More Important Than I Realized
At this point, it’s clear I have a fair number of acquaintances—likely more than Facebook suggests, since not all of them are on social media. I don’t send many friend requests, probably out of fear they won’t be accepted (hey, just being honest).
Acquaintances range from people I barely know to those who are almost friends. Take Brandt, for example—I instinctively called him a friend, but realistically, we were mid-level acquaintances. This morning, I found myself discussing this whole concept with Penthouse Dude and Thig (as one does). After some back-and-forth, I finally reached a conclusion.
Friends come and go—some may even come back. Maintaining a friendship takes effort from both sides, and one person alone can destroy it. It’s hard work, but when it’s mutual, it’s something special.
Acquaintances, on the other hand, are essential. They fill gaps, provide support in different ways, and sometimes, they turn into friends. Looking at my current situation, I realize I couldn’t navigate it without my acquaintances. They’re more valuable than I ever gave them credit for.
To All My Acquaintances—Thank You.
You play a role in my life, and I appreciate it more than ever.
A Simple Man
— Thig on the Wheel spun by AI cleaning!
FEB 23, 2025 • You never know how valuable people truly are until you need them. And always remember, those acquaintences need you, too. Often more than you realize.