They’re Not Your Friends….

Those thousands of voyeurs you have on social media;
The people that appear to be friends all the time they get what they want from you;
Using you as a stepping stone to climb the social ladder;
They’re not your friends;
They will stick a knife in your back as soon as it suits them.

Your friends are always there;
Whether they agree with you or not;
Even if being friends with you harms their ‘social standing’;
They support you in the hard times;
Phone you when there’s no reason;
Send you jokes they know you’ll find funny.

Friends don’t need reminding that they are friends;
They are always just one call away;
Their help is never conditional;
Never an inconvenience;
They always know it’s mutual.

Martial Arts students and peers become friends;
They sweat together,
Bleed together,
Cry together,
Laugh together,
Forging memories from the fires of hell.

A martial artist has 2 families;
Both made in blood;
Shallow people will never understand this;
If you think everyone is a deceiver;
Maybe you should look at yourself?

There are diamonds on that beach of pebbles;
What you give you shall receive;
If you can stick to your guns;
Follow the ‘way’ assiduously and with honesty;
Others will recognise you soul to soul.

And they will become your true friends.