As children we have imaginary friends; accepting, loyal, true, dependable; always ready to take the blame for any mischief we find ourselves being accused of; always ready to take up arms in fighting off our enemies, both real and imagined, and easing our fears.
Eventually we are convinced to rid ourselves of childish things and replace our imaginary friends with 'real' friends, and we do.
As adolescents and young adults we imagine many of those we associate with to be our 'real' friends. Most are accepting, loyal, true, dependable; some are ready to take or share the blame for any mischief we find ourselves being accused of; some are even ready to take up arms in fighting off our enemies; all in an effort to forge bonds that are promised to last a lifetime and beyond.
As mature adults we realize that our 'real' friends are few and far between; that many we imagined to be friends were just that, imagined. We look at children and long for that 'real' connection; acceptance, loyalty, truth, dependability. We see the bond they have with their imaginary friends and they appear more 'real' than what we have with so many of those we imagine to be our real friends.
We eventually convince our children to rid themselves of childish things and replace their imaginary friends with 'real' friends, and they do.
Imagine That!!!
