Published by: Iyoke Sunday Paschal 

Date: 3/09/2025

Friendship is one of the most beautiful gifts of life, yet it is never as simple as it looks on the surface. To truly call someone a friend, you must first pass through the long and sometimes stressful process of knowing who they really are. In today’s world, where trust is fragile and betrayal is common, the journey of discovering people before opening your heart to them can be emotionally draining.

At first, meeting someone may feel exciting—sharing jokes, exchanging numbers, or hanging out casually. But friendship is more than surface-level fun. It requires patience, trust, consistency, and shared values. You begin to ask yourself: Can I rely on this person? Do they truly care about me, or are they only here for convenience? Answering these questions takes time, and during that time you may face disappointments and doubts.

The stress comes from balancing hope and caution. You want to trust, but you also want to protect yourself from hurt. Sometimes, people pretend to be who they are not. It takes months, even years, to see someone’s true character through how they react in hard times, how they speak about others, and whether they stand by their words.

This process is exhausting, yet it is necessary. Real friendship is not built overnight; it is tested through trials, distance, misunderstandings, and forgiveness. The stress of knowing someone deeply is the price we pay to avoid false connections. And when you finally find that one person who proves to be genuine, all the stress becomes worth it—because true friendship brings peace, loyalty, and a sense of belonging that no amount of struggle can overshadow.