“Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.”
-Benjamin Franklin
We have all heard the saying that slow and steady wins the race. Often times we look at this as meaning the race of life but I also relate it to today’s quote by one of the Founding Fathers of the United States Benjamin Franklin. He recommends that we are slow in choosing who our friends are be even slower in changing. The first part reminds us to choose wisely when selecting the type of friends we want to be associated with. Do they truly exemplify the qualities and characteristics we are looking for in our friendships such as being trustworthy, honest, dependable, loyal, non-judgmental and supportive just to name a few.
Now the changing part I believe refers to how those friendships affect us in changing us. This change I hope, as I’m sure you do, is for the better in that we become better people for having been in those relationships, those friendships. They and the people within it should be bringing value to our lives and we in turn should be doing the same for them. Its a give and take but each side must have equal footing and equal contribution. We need to be mindful that the friendships we have are ones that continue to improve our lives and who we are because if they do not and they begin to change us into someone we do not want to be, then it is time to cut ties from that relationship.
For whatever reason we are always in such a rush in life. Let’s remember to slow down and take it all in; especially when it comes to our friendships and the relationships we have. Change is a process and takes time. Nothing good ever came from changing too quickly. So be slow and steady to win at the race of your life.
What does this quote mean to you and how can you apply today’s message towards developing your relationship skills?
Becoming The Change 