Friendship One mistake I have made in the past is overlooking the importance of friendship. When I had my first boyfriend at sixteenth, I was too amused and everything about him was simply stunning. Because my family was too 'boring' I preferred hanging out with my boyfriend more than anyone else. I once had my head fully dwelled into a relationship. As I grow older, and of course, been through several breakups and came to understand that relationship are not always amazing. I began to see the importance of friendship. Relationships don't always last, but friendship does. So what exactly is friendship? If you disagree what I say about friendship can last, then probably you do not understand how I define it in the first place. There is only one rule of friendship (a golden one) that is: being true to yourself. There are times where people have to be reserved in social settings, in Asian cultures in particular, where people do not feel comfortable to express their true feelings or thinking. This is case for acquaintances and not friendship. For instance, in more liberal countries you would not expect someone to mock the other when they have just met either. Cultural differences is not what I am referring to here, yet I am not denying that national background and environment does have an impact on how people behave and interact with each other. Friendship is about simplicity. If you are being friends with someone to take advantages from them, then be explicit. I do not think it is fair to pretend or try doing something behind the back of your friends. People do realise inconsistencies, and they quickly learn not to trust you again.