Disclaimer: This is a very long post, and which you may get bored reading through, but this is the product of my reflections. If you aren't interested, you can always pass on this one. But if you are like me who treasures friendship most, why not try reading? *wink*
Due to studies and freelance work concerns, I have been neglecting this blog for almost a week now. I knew I have a number of issues that must be put into words through this site but I have been busy.
But after watching "The Tyra Banks Show" just a little before noon today, I couldn't suppress my urge to write about it. The show had too interesting a topic for me to ignore and leave it without penning anything about it. So, well, here I am, back blogging after getting this site shamefully idling for quite a time.
It was about
about
betrayal by a loved one. It featured two segments, one between two friends and another between two sisters. I don't have a sister but have lovely and great best friends, so naturally I totally related on the former. The segment showed a young American woman telling the world how she was betrayed by her former boyfriend and ex-bestfriend.
It happened one day when the boyfriend was missing the same time the bestfriend was. Turned out the two fled to cheat on her, and whether intentional or not, to hurt her. It devastated her, of course. It was the most horrible thing to happen to her because not only was it the least expected thing but it was a double devastation...
- one caused by a betrayal by her most trusted bestfriend; and
- another from her so much loved boyfriend.
While narrating her experience, she didn't know that her former bestfriend was at the backstage watching her with tears in her eyes via the big tv set. And as emotional as I am, I couldn't help but get into tears as well because I felt both for the two women.
I felt deeply for the woman betrayed, because I can feel the pain she had been nursing for the past 7 years.
I felt even more for the former bestfriend, because I can feel within my chest the agony of not being able to hug her bestfriend - only because of a single yet biggest mistake she had made 7 years ago.
I knew the woman betrayed drew more sympathy from the viewers while the former bestfriend - maybe, tons of disgust than sympathy; but I am not a judgmental person. I mean, who are we to judge anyway? We had our own shortcomings in life, with little or no resemblance at all, but nevertheless, have pained someone dear to us.
So, being one that went through so much in life, I always look into the other side of the story. While most of us would likely condemn than understand this bestfriend, I don't see a need to crucify her. Instead, she needs so much understandings from us after getting into so much pain just as her bestfriend did. She may have had committed the biggest mistake in her life, but that doesn't mean she no longer has the right to live normally - or the right to forgiveness.
People make mistake, in one way or another, but it's not the gravity of the mistake that matters. What should is how much you suffered and became repentant after realizing the immaturity of it all.
It is very human to make mistake then pay the price afterwards.
That's where we get lessons.
Therefore, even if the woman can be considered the worst girl friend on earth, she still deserves a second chance. Besides, she already paid the price. She lost her "stolen boyfriend." And that didn't even match compared to the anguish she suffered knowing she was responsible for ruining both her and her bestfriend's lives.
Going back to the show, it had tried to help the ruined lives by bringing the bestfriend right into the face of the wronged woman so they can talk after seven, long, painful years of hatred and anonymity. Appearing before each other was not the easiest thing to do. But in the name of winning her back, she consented and appeared to ask her forgiveness right in front of the millions of televiewers.
I must say it was a very big step. It may not completely erase the painful experience between
the women, but that is going to be the start. It will not immediately patch things up, but healing takes time. Anguish and pain will gradually heal themselves. It may never be the same as before, but in time, both will likely realize how much they'd missed each other. It is never impossible to bring back the warmth and sincerity of their friendship.
I am such a very emotional and melodramatic person who looks into true friendship as a sacred thing and a rare gem to treasure forever, so I really wished both women well, albeit they couldn't possibly read this post. They actually made me remember and miss my few best and closest girl friends.