A good friend is always there to support you, but they won’t cater to your every whim.

One of the most important reasons to cultivate friendships is that they are a crucial part of the puzzle to creating the community that we all have to rely on at one point or another. Lonely people do not just suffer from the mental health effects of isolation, but also the practical ones; they have nobody to help them with all the stuff that they can’t do alone, unless they are able to pay somebody.

It can’t be denied that when we make the right kinds of friendships, we are blessed with a bunch of people who can potentially make our lives easier when the time comes. However, it would be wrong to take that for granted or become entitled to whatever support our friends are willing to give. As a general rule, it is unwise to ask for anything that we wouldn’t do in return if the roles were reversed. It is one of the quickest ways to start arguments and ignite resentments that could be the final straw for the relationship. Even those who love us will not always put up with outrageous demands.