Do you have friends or just acquaintances?

April 5, 2017 by

friendsIn the day and age of social media where you can “add a friend” in a mere click, how do you distinguish the difference between an actual friend and someone who is just an acquaintance?

That line is blurry for many. Friend collecting has become a virtual popularity contest. Facebook limits you to 5000 friends, though the number of followers you can have is endless. Say you reach that limit. Of those 5000 people, how many do you know in person? How many do you even recognize their names?

Not to say that social media cannot result in making genuine connections, it can. But this begs the deeper question.

What is an acquaintance?

An acquaintance is someone you have met in passing. You do not know them very well and haven’t made a particularly deep or solid connection. They are a surface level version of a friend.


What is a friend?

A friend is someone who you enjoy spending time with, who you relate well to, you feel a connection with and whom you have things in common.
A friend is someone you can confide in and trust.
A friend is someone who genuinely cares about you and your wellbeing.
A friend is someone who isn’t motivated selfishly in their intent who has your best interest at heart.
A friend will defend you to others.
A friend will speak well of you behind your back just as they would directly to you.
A friend is someone with whom you can be yourself completely.
A friend values your friendship and you theirs. There is mutual respect.
A friendship is a two-way street, it is balanced in giving and receiving.

When you find a true friend, value them. Be good to them. Treat them as you would like to be treated. When this is done on both parts, that friendship can last a lifetime.

Real life friends aren’t made in a single click, it takes time. Acquaintances come and go, but true friendship is to be valued and cherished.

Visit www.monarchwellness.com for more blogs on friendship, relationships, happiness, life, yoga, therapy, healing, as well as local events – Monarch Wellness is a wonderful local resource for bringing the community of like-minded individuals together. That is how friendships often start.

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About Kimberly Rodgers, LCSW, RPT-S

Kimberly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor through the Association for Play Therapy. She also supervises clinical social work interns pursuing licensure. She has worked as a psychotherapist for twelve years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia and Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida.

Her experience includes foster care, adoption, youth shelter, youth related research, school-based counseling, and sexual assault crisis center settings prior to private practice. She specializes in counseling children, families, and adults struggling with stress, anxiety, trauma, and adjustment to life transitions. Kimberly is a current Board member of the Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida and former Vice-President of the Southwest Florida chapter of the Association for Play Therapy. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers and EMDR International Association.

Kimberly is founder of Monarch Wellness (originally Monarch Therapy), an integrative center focused on empowering individuals and families through emotional and behavioral metamorphosis. In addition to counseling and play therapy, the center offers other supportive modalities to further enhance emotional healing and stress management including support groups, yoga, laughter yoga, breathwork, integrative relaxation, and sound therapy. Monarch Wellness' sister site eFitFamily.com offers health related information and inspiration for everyday families to live healthier every day. The center is also involved with House of Gaia community center and other community and service focused organizations. More information about Kimberly and her practice can be found online: www.MonarchWellness.net.

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