How many of us have them?

Friends make you better. point blank, period. There is no getting around it or through it, if a person calls you a friend there must be some sort of progression seen as a result of the relationship.

Oh, that's not what you see in your friends? Or how you view them? This whole concept seems foreign?

Well for all intents and purposes, (not intensive purposes dummies...) few of us have massive amounts of friends. Take me for example, I go places around Indianapolis, and I see people I know all the time; however that doesnt make us friends. Yes, I have an occasional drink and even a less-occasional shot and during these times I'm often with people I know; that doesn't make us friends. I have numerous affiliations, from fraternity to the workplace, but just because we are connected does not make us friends.

There has to be something more than the obvious, something more than just, "all these years we've known each other" or "you seem like a cool guy." If not than you're simply remaining stagnant in a relationship that isn't helping you at all. There are a select few people I come to with issues about my future, and although we don't go out and get "chocolate wasted," I consider them friends because life should be all about progression.

See people as they are and you make them worse; see them for what they have the potential to be and you make them better

I'm pretty sure that quote is from Voltaire, but its a quote I live by.

Sure, no one is perfect, nor can we expect anyone to be; however there must be some sort of push to strive for something better. As I move out of this transition stage of my life I'm  making sure I have those around me who motivate me, either with words or actions, to continue striving onward and upward. I see myself in many of my friends and although we are all entirely different there are many traits that are common.

John is literally the coolest guy I know, but going out and living up to his social potential has never been his goal. He keeps to himself, a loner by some regards, but as himself he's one of the most content people I know. Jill is a jerk, complete and total asshole and she has helped me realize the importance of being such a way, as it makes those awkward situations a lot less awkward. She'll snap off on someone to, when its something she's passionate about. Erica will run circles around everyone from a mental standpoint. She's extremely witty and has always been a source of strength.

I could name a few others, but they already know the deal. I've taken from them all and hopefully they've taken some things from me. In the end I'll probably have been a better friend to many than they've been to me, but its a job I'll take any day.