happy 20th birthday emmi ! ( @enduer )
alright i’m gonna get super emo and extra here but bear with me.
aristotle wrote ( lmao listen just stick with me here okay ) that there were three types of friendships. the first kind are friendships of utility, built upon some sort of mutual benefit in the relationship. this is how we met and started talking [ 1, 2 ] on tumblr rp. you were a carl blog and i was a lori blog, we both enjoyed each others’ writing, and so we both had something to gain out of being friendly and talking and writing with each other.
then there are friendships of pleasure, which is when people seek out each other’s company because of the joy it brings to each of them. this rapidly developed out of our friendship of utility after realizing that we had almost the exact same sense of humor, the same interests ( like scarily identical, down to the same career goals in psychology, our love of animals, and our similar taste in shows and movies ), and could easily find fun in each other’s company, whether it was sending stupid videos or streaming together or just talking about our day.
but those first two types of friendships are common and fickle, because those friendships alone would dissolve if there was no more mutual benefit to be gained or if our mutual interests and hobbies were to change. this brings aristotle to friendships of the good, which encompasses the other two types of friendship, but develop into something deeper over time. this occurs through mutual respect, admiration of each other’s virtues and values, and a desire to help the other person through life’s hardships for no other purpose than recognizing the other’s ❝ essential goodness ❞. that means whether or not it is advantageous or pleasurable for you to support the other, you do so faithfully and continuously solely out of your love and belief in them -- in other words, you are friends for each other’s sake.
even though this last form of friendship is the hardest to find, in my eyes that is what our friendship has become. we both care so deeply about doing the right thing and push each other to grow in accordance with our shared values. you have had my back through so much, both online and offline, and supported me through my lows without want of anything in return and always with an enduring belief in me. i sincerely hope that i have been ( and continue to be ) this kind of friend to you, someone who is loyally on your team and will be there with you through thick and thin. most of our friendship is shared through laughter and fun, but what has made it last for two years and what will make it continue to last are the moments and gestures that make me certain that we are in each other’s lives for a reason.
i love you so much and am so lucky to have you in my life. you are so talented in so many ways, you have a gentle and empathetic heart, you have taught me so much, your strength constantly inspires me, and i know you are destined to do great things. have an amazing 20th birthday and i hope it’s the best year yet — you deserve it. ♡