Trust, Friends

There are days that i have to wonder why my friends have so much trust in me.  
Today i have thought this through.  Why do my friends trust me?  Because they 
are true friends.  They obviously seem to like how i treat them.  I show them 
only my true self.  I don't believe in showing my friends anything less or other 
than my true self.  Now that i ponder upon my ideals, i can understand why my 
friends hold so much trust in me.  I happen to love my friends.  An attack upon 
my friends is the same as an attack upon me.  I ask that my friends not hold 
back wanting to spare my feelings (i'm a cold, calculating, sadistic, unfeeling 
bastard according to most people anyway). We are all different.  If we weren't, 
the world would not be worth living in.  I therefore warn my friends that i can 
be at times brutally honest.  If they can deal with anything i might say, then 
they can be my friends.  So how does this relate to trust?  People must trust 
you to be able to state their true feelings about or to someone.  By opening 
myself to a person, they become comfortable, and willing to open themselves to 
me.  Once ideas can be exchanged openly, a trusting bond is formed.  This bond 
is a true friendship.  As this is one of the few times i'm writing where i am 
not in a dark mood, i think i'll not ponder any further.
Dreamcatcher Neochaos
3-17-2002