Honesty. Loyalty. Kindness. Generosity.
Laughter. These are the values we need to have as Namibians if we want to join
our President in building a Namibian House. One “where everyone feels a sense
of belonging, where everyone is presented with a fair opportunity to prosper in
an inclusive manner and by so doing, ensure that no one feels left out.” But we
cannot do so alone – we need to do it together. We need to forge a bond with
one another to succeed – we need to form a friendship with one another.
Friendships are such an important part of
all our lives, and yet because of its ubiquity, one we tend to neglect even
though it is one of the most important bonds we need for a successful society.
Friends make us feel included – and friends inspire us to be better people. We
don’t just want friends – we need them! In marriage, friendship is rated as
more important as intimacy. If you friend eats healthy, you are five times more
likely to eat healthy as well. Even at work it is important – people without
friends at work are one twelfth as likely to report feeling engaged.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “In
poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. They
keep the young out of mischief; they comfort and aid the old in their weakness,
and they incite those in the prime of life to noble deeds.” Friends come in
many shapes and sizes, and all these types of friends help us in different
ways.
Some friends are motivators – builders.
They motivate you, and encourage you to develop yourself – they drive you to
succeed. They’ll risk themselves in order to see you succeed, because they know
that success is not a zero-sum game, and they know that success is best shared.
Other friends are your champions. They believe the same things you do, and
they’ll provide vital encouragement in your endeavours. They have your back,
and will stand up for you even if you’re not there.
Friends can also be your partners. You’ll
share similar interests, and this is the basis for many a friendship. These are
the people you’re on common ground with, and who join you on your journey
through life, with similar ambitions etc. Friends can also be companions – the
people who are there for you when you need them. These are the people you want
around you when something big happens in your life – the people you share a
deep bond with.
Some friends are connectors. These friends
help you build friendships, as they learn to know you, and introduce you to
other friends, and help you to meet new people. If you need something, they
know someone who can help. Other friends are your energetic friends – they’re
the fun part of a social circle. They make a good day great, and lift your
spirits when you’re down.
Then you have your intellectual friends –
your creative friends. They help you open your mind, and expand your horizons.
They help you discover new ideas, new opportunities and drive you to explore
other people and cultures. They want to create a positive change, and always
ask the good questions. Finally, you have your friends who are expert
navigators of life. They are always there with sound advice, and they are the
people you approach when you need guidance. During difficult times, they’ll
help you to see a positive future that remains grounded in reality.
As you discover these values in your
friends around you, you’ll start to see that you, too, fulfil many of these
roles for your friends. Friendships cultivate the virtues which are essential
to a flourishing society. And while friendships are mutually beneficial,
friendship at its core is not a give-or-take proposition. Friendships occur
because we are willing to give ourselves to another life. We don’t make friends
because we expect something in return, but because we have something we can
give.
Friendships are born from generosity, as we
give yourselves. We bond through laughter, while loyalty binds us together and
make us strong. Mutual honesty shows us that we belong, and our kindness shared
unites us through each day, and for the rest of our lives. Success does not
happen in isolation – every successful person has a group of friends that
helped him/her become that success. Oscar Wilde famously said “Anybody can
sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature
to sympathise with a friend’s success.”
We, as a country, need to be invested in
each other’s success if we wish to break the cycle of poverty. We need to be
honest with one another about what is required, and invested in not leaving
anyone behind. We need to lift up those who are trapped in the darkness, and
give freely to ensure success permeates across all the strata of our society.
We’ll do it with a smile on our faces, because seeing each other succeed should
fill our hearts with joy. We cannot do it alone.
We need to become more than citizens – we
need to become friends! Friends invested in seeing the Harambee Prosperity Plan
succeed. Friends who motivate, who encourage, who are there for each other when
needed. Friends that join everyone who can help each other, and friends who not
only open each other’s minds, but also guides each other to a new future we
built together. When citizens are friends, success will follow like magic. All
the values in the world cannot thrive if they cannot be shared amongst friends
– but when they are, I believe you’ll find that friendship is magic.
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