I
have been taught that relationships are not for social networks; religion is
too controversial thus I’m left with few things to blog about. (Maybe i should blog about the lessons I've learned from my day time shows; particularly Desperate Housewives.)
Of late; I’ve
been reading a lot about Zimbabwean women in the Diaspora who were killed by
their men over small issues. Headlines like : Zimbo killed girlfriend over dirty dishes. It’s really saddening to think you are out here
for school or for greener pastures and next thing you know_ DEAD! UK murder hunt over body in bag
When
does it become okay to step in as a friend?
This
is a question I asked myself when I imagined the lives of these deceased women.
They probably had friends; maybe friends like me_ who don’t want to overstep
their boundaries. I once tried to help; and ended up looking like a fool. To
add insult to my injury; the story had been remixed. I seemed t o be the
villain in the story. Apparently; I had told my dear “friend” to DUMP his sorry
ass. In my defense; it was her who came to me crying her eyeballs out; talking
about how he is scum and she never wants to see him again. While trying to be a
good friend, I might have muttered a word or two about him not deserving her
BUT I did not mention her breaking up with him. Isn’t that what friends are for_
to cheer you up? I was proven wrong.
After
they patched things up; she decided to rat me out. The guy was fuming and
“banned” me from ever talking to his girlfriend again. I have never felt so
small in my life; I was just trying to help. It has been two years since that
happened but it taught me to stay clear of my friend’s relationships. In the
event of being corned into discussing ‘them” I try and steer the conversation
and let them be as I also silently judge on my own. It’s not that I do not care
asi zverudo izvi ndezvevaviri. Loosely translated; two is a couple and three is a crowd
But;
when does it become okay for me to step in?
I
want to respect my friend’s privacy but I also want to help when it’s
necessary. How do I know it’s time to step in? When a friend is visibly being
abused or ill- treated; I die a little bit inside. I want to help but how?
Won’t this backfire at me and I end up compromising our friendship?
The
victims in all the recent headlines probably had friends. Friend’s like me_ who
don’t want to over step their boundaries. Should I just stay clear and watch
until the “friend” is murdered because I am trying to save our “friendship”?
I used to believe in the concept of one best
friend, and then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that
if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many
friends. One friend is needed when you're going through things with your
man. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your
mom. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just
be. One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,' another, 'Let's fight
together,' another, 'Let's walk away together.' One friend will meet
your spiritual need, another shoe fetish, another love for
movies, another will be with you in your season of confusion, and
another will be your clarifier. But whatever their assignment in your
life, On whatever the occasion, On whatever the day, Or wherever
you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or
to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself. Those are your
best friends. It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many, it's
wrapped up in several. One from 7th grade, One from high
school, several from the college years, your mother, on some days
your neighbor, your sisters, and on some days, your mothers friends. These are your best friends
I
want all girl friends to know; this is what goes through the minds of our friends when we visibly need help : I want to be a friend. Someone you can lean on. Staying in a relationship JUST BECAUSE you
have history isn't a good enough excuse. Sometimes you are in love with nothing
more than a memory of what use to be. It’s sad. Many people don't notice how
much you love and care for them until you stop. I don't want to be a statistic
and no one wants to either.




