I'm OK with a caring imbalance.

It’s so much easier for me to give than take. That’s the nature of virtually all of my friendships. Maybe it’s that I hesitate relying on other people. Even on my dearest friends. I’d rather feel that I give considerably more than I take. Don’t know if that’s a virtue. Because I tell my friends in need that they have to learn how to take. Gracefully. No, I don’t want them to take advantage of me. And a true friend won’t. My best friends usually need emotional support. The buoying of their spirits. That’s my specialty. I like to give that way. More so than monetarily. Though I don’t rule that out, either.  All depends on the situation. I don’t have many true friends. Handfuls, maybe. But I have enormous numbers of acquaintances. Some of ‘em potential friends. Of course, I know how to take from my closest friends. Moral support. Which I appreciate. Generally, I like to return their giving several fold. That puts me at ease. Makes me comfortable. Could be that I don’t fully know how to take. It’s darn difficult. Makes me uneasy. I suspect that I care more about my friends than the friends care about me. That’s no problem. Doesn’t bother me. Really. –Jim Broede