They say if you truly want to know yourself
Look at your five closest friends.
Because your reflection of the people you spend most of your time with
Whether you like it or not, like them or not, friends can do two things:
Either push us forward or pull us back.
'Cause you see, as a young basketball player
I never really felt the need to learn how to jump.
Until all my friends started to dunk.
And as a young student, I only really started to get in trouble in class
When all my friends started to flunk.
Think about it, when you got your results, who were the first people you ask
So how did you in English, Maths and Art?
And you know that we always assumed our grades were ok
As long as we got more A's than our mates.
But when it came to getting into college
Did all of you guys get accepted into the same place?
See. That's why I say it's important to have friends with benefits.
Because if they don't add to your life, then they subtract from it.
And if they don't do nothing all, that's just as bad.
Because breaking isn't an exact profit.
Listen, as humans we look our surroundings and learn to adapt to it.
So if you surround yourself with bums, what do you expect to be the outcome?
You end up full of shit because life is too short to live for
Other people's ideas.
That's the harsh reality. Whenever I use the term friend
I add air quotes because apparently
I have 30,000 friends on Facebook, 200,000 on YouTube
33,000 on Twitter but when things hit the fan?
All they ever did was like my picture.
So wait, am I implying, contrary to popular belief,
That you should only be friends people that can help you?
Yes. I am.
People that respect your identity and decisions you choose to make indefinitely.
People that can help you grow because true friends are people that benefit you
Emotionally, spiritually, mentally and regularly.
Not a friend that calls you no fun just because you believe to enjoy yourself you don't always need to get drunk.
Not one that has sex and laughs at your virginity because you believe in integrity.
Not a friend that smokes, that makes you the butt of the joke when you're opposed to conforming.
Although they know you're an athlete and how it affects your performance.
Not a friend that puts you down nine out of ten times whenever you're in a crowd.
But then becomes your best buddy when no one else is around.
That's not a true friend.
But at the same time remember
One hand washes the other before they can both wash the face.
So before you can expect good friends, you have to learn to be one yourself.
And that involves having morales that you stand by and stick to.
Because as Malcolm X said "A man that stands for nothing, falls for anything."
So there's nothing wrong with having friends with benefits.
So, ultimately, both of you can find ways to benefit each other.
Peace.