LOVE, TRUTH and FRIENDSHIP

When I was "growing up" (between high school and my college years) and learning to become "a man" I recall pondering what I might value as my key philosophies going forward. I decided the most important attributes in life worth paying attention to (which would be most likely to make me happy in good and bad times) were summed up in three words: LOVE, TRUTH and FRIENDSHIP. Seems to me if you are in LOVE with others (and yourself and your life) you will be happier for it. If you are honest, as much as possible, and seek out worldly TRUTH then, in reality, you should end life having had few if any regrets; and you will be happier for it. Also, if you manage to cultivate some really GOOD, for better or for worse, FRIENDSHIPs you will be happier for it.

The first two, LOVE and TRUTH, will depend mostly on you, yourself, your own character. The third one, TRUE (unwavering) FRIENDSHIP, as it turns out, is not so easy to establish or achieve; it takes at least two to tango as they say. But, as it also turns out, if you search long enough and hard enough and finally find "your soulmate(s)" then, chances are, you will also have found your true LOVE(s), your "best" FRIEND(s), the one(s) you never need worry about sharing your TRUTH(s) with. And (odds are) you will be happy. In effect...

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most:
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

The Women I Have Fond Memories Of
(in chronological order, fondness ranked 1 to 10 on the "best/most" scale, * = Good Friends Only)