on being a good friend...

Dr. Meredith Grey : "At the end of the day, when it comes down to it, all we really want is to be close to somebody. So this thing, where we all keep our distance and pretend not to care about each other, is usually a load of bull. So we pick and choose who we want to remain close to, and once we've chosen those people, we tend to stick close by. No matter how much we hurt them, the people that are still with you at the end of the day - those are the ones worth keeping. And sure, sometimes close can be too close. But sometimes, that invasion of personal space, it can be exactly what you need."

Why is that when people tell us "I need space" we actually believe them? Is that being a good friend? It seems to me that good friends are the ones who do invade your personal space. They are the ones who simply sit with you when don't feel like talking. They are the ones who listen when you do. They are the ones who refuse to give up on you even when you feel like giving up on yourself. The truth is that I know I've chosen people in my life who I plan to stick close by. I have inevitably hurt these same people I care about at one time or another. But these are the people whose personal space I invade- either figuratively or literally.
I know this all from experience. I have had people in my life who have called me on my own bull. I have had people who have invaded my personal space ignoring my protests that "I'm fine" and "I just need some space." Good friends don't abandon you just because you give them an out.

I'm just saying...