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Picking Your Family of Friends By Their Feathers

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

Mama DuckIn our relationships they say opposites attract. I think that is true but also similarities endure. With family we are given those people.

On the other hand friends are the FAMILY "we" get to choose, and the best of friends hold similarities to us.

YOU PICK YOUR FRIENDS BY THEIR FEATHERS.

While we are all different and enjoy the differences between ourselves, the similarities are what keeps us coming back for more of the friend.

Think of the things you may have in common: your level of laughter, your not liking the same kind of obnoxious people, your wanting to be understood in the world, your caring or kind ways, a hobby or interest you both share, your ability to relate to each other from similar past experiences, your values with regard to how you lead your life, your core views of what is right and wrong behavior in the world. Sometimes the similarities in friends will line up in just one or two of these. But a friend will not last long term in your life without some sense of the familiar. It will be like oil and water and not mix. It will be an infatuation, a flash in the pan encounter.

Family is with us our whole life. Friends can come and go. The very best ones will stay with you. But remember they are linked to you by feather. Birds of a feather flock together. The feathers are what you two are most about whether it is a good heart, stimulating conversation, a consoling tenderness by them, or just a tenacity that they will stick with you through thick and thin. Double check the feathers of your friends. Make sure they are the ones you want in your life to help you spread your wings and soar.

Comments (27)

Jimmy McCall
JimmyMcCall.com - Cunningham, TN
The Ex-Mortgage Consultant

Gary,  Great post.  My neighbors have built a house and are moving soon.  They are people I would have chosen as friends so it is sad to see them move.  The problem is we have no control over who will be moving in next door.  Will they be like us?  If not, we will have neighbors next door instead of friends.

Aug 05, 2008 08:24 AM
Lynn Johnson
Coldwell Banker Home Connection - Owatonna, MN
Owatonna, MN Real Estate

Gary - And the neat thing about friends is that you don't need to have a whole flock to enrich your life.  You can choose a few special birds friends whose feathers reflect the values and interests closest to yours.  Those truly one-of-a kind friendships can last a lifetime - and others can come and go as your life changes. 

Aug 05, 2008 08:33 AM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes

Gary

You are so right on this. We do pick those around us. It takes time to get to really get to know people and to develop friendships, to find out the commonalities .  In this fast paced world many youg people forget this and their friends, not unlike their jobs, come and go.

Aug 05, 2008 08:47 AM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Close friends are priceless... and I've been fortunate enough to make several that have been with me most of my life. 

Aug 05, 2008 09:26 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Very cute...........ducklings.........not eaglets or turkeys I noticed...:-) It made me smile..........we have a duck pond right next door.........and they're fascinating to watch...

Aug 05, 2008 09:27 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Gary,  That is very true.  Here in Northern Virginia we have ducks, but a huge population of geese - their goslings are just as cute,  Karen

Aug 05, 2008 12:29 PM
Pam Pugmire
Silvercreek Realty Group - Meridian, ID
Meridian Idaho Real Estate

How true!  As parents we know the importance of making sure our children pick good friends, but many times we forget as adults that this applies to us as well. 

It is said that we become like who we hang around and the books we read.

Aug 05, 2008 01:16 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

The friends we choose can open up opportunities (not to mention difficulties) that are not available in the lack of choice of our families.  There really can't be any real comparison between the two can there?

Aug 05, 2008 02:43 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mel: I love how you met that lady on the bus. Hopefully it will turn into a strong friend for you. Even on vacation you may meet someone who will stay in your life. That would be amazing.

Yvette: I try to share. I love how you share too.

Jimmy: Neighbors or friends next door? Hope you get some more friends.

Lynn: Yep, you just need a handful to make it all worthwhile.

Trey: Some of the friends do come and go but hopefully some will stay a long time.

Jesse: That's great you have the lifelong friends. They have you too big guy.

Liz: Ducks are always so gentle. It's nice to have a pond nearby.

Karen: That photo is an interesting one. How do they all fit up there??

Pam: That is critical in parenting watching the friends the kids get. With adults the friends and the books are very important too not to forget.

Charles: Well we can get rid of the friends we don't like whereas the family? : )

Aug 05, 2008 03:18 PM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Gary, I love this post!  Friends do not need to be totally alike.  The differences make the friendship interesting.  At the same time,  birds of a feather do flock together.  You don't see too many Eagles  hanging out with buzzards.  You don't see too many hummingbirds behaving like ostriches. 

That picture is so CUTE! 

 

Aug 05, 2008 03:29 PM
Teresa Harris
Lake Real Estate, LLC - Denver, NC
Denver . Lake Norman . Charlotte

Hey Gary, Here's to another GREAT one!! Very insightful and very true... Love the duck picture too!

Aug 05, 2008 03:39 PM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Gary - Some of my family members come and go out of my life more so than some of my friends. But I do agree, it's amazing how birds of a feather flock together.

Aug 05, 2008 04:16 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sondra: I think you summarized it quite well with the different species and that the differences are enough to make the relationships interesting.

Teresa: With those ducks I just can't figure out how so many of them get up there for the ride. A Mama birds works is never done : )

Carol: You are right about that family members can disappear too.

Aug 05, 2008 04:34 PM
Mara Hawks
First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL
Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

Gary, Today a dear friend passed away unexpectedly. The work in front of me doesn't seem to matter for now, so I thought I'd visit your blog and found this wonderful word/illustrated image of friends... We knew each other for nearly 3 decades and our kids grew up together. She had a beautiful set of feathers, composing music at her piano, painting portraits, generous with her joy and laughter, always, always a friend. I can't believe she's gone. We were birds of a feather... I was so lucky to have had a most beautiful friend... LOVE is a treasure that our hearts can always spend...nothing else matters...

 

Aug 05, 2008 04:35 PM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Mara, I'm sorry about the loss of your friend.  She sounded like she was a beautiful bird and friend.  sonda

Aug 06, 2008 12:12 AM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty

Gary, I couldn't agree with this post more.  Mara, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. 

Aug 06, 2008 04:34 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mara: I am very sad to hear about your friend. Your photo is something to cherish as you both look very happy in it. Thanks for sharing it with all of us on this post. Knowing someone for 30 years definitely leaves a hole in your heart. I agree that love is a treasure. Remember you will hold her memory in your heart forever. May God bless you at this time of your grief. It really puts into perspective all the little things that don't matter compared to life and love. Take care my wonderful friend.

Sondra and Patricia: Thanks for your thoughts to Mara.

 

Aug 06, 2008 08:41 AM
Dan Woodworth
The Connection - Garden City, ID
Encouraging Communicator

Hi Gary, Thank You for your encouraging and inspiring post!  You are who you hang out with and what you read!  People will lift you up or pull you down!  Choose the lifters! 

Aug 06, 2008 04:08 PM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains

The old "friends of a feather flock together" is ever so true.  Pluck the feathers of those who bring you down.  We are bombarded with enough negativity just on TV alone.  Find those feather friends who will be the "wind beneath your wings".

Aug 07, 2008 02:34 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Dan: Who you hang out with and what you read and put into your mind certainly shapes you. Thanks for your reminder.

Hi Donna: Very good advice in finding the "wind beneath your wings." We all need that.

Aug 07, 2008 06:53 AM