"A" for Effort

Here's a topic that's been sitting on my mind for a little while now.

Is there a difference between liking and supporting? Specifically, can you dislike the final product yet still be supportive of the effort?

To answer my own question, yes. Yes I believe that it's possible to support someone even though you don't like what they produce. Case and point, my closest friend is an artist. She does photography, painting, and jewelry making among other things. While I 110% support her working for herself, I do not like all of the abstract art that she paints. Does that mean I won't go to a gallery showing or exhibition? Of course not.

You don't go to a Wake or a Funeral for the dead. You go in an effort to support their family and loved ones.

When you've known people for over a decade, you sort of expect support when you take big steps in life. Whether you're joining the Peace Corps, applying to Grad School, or relocating for a better job, is it wrong to expect a little encouragement from those close to you?

In my personal experience, yes.

It's OK to talk about celebrities or sports, you can even talk about politics and religion with your close friends! But when it comes to talking about a potential career path, or something equally important that will directly impact your life, suddenly everybody is speechless. We don't really need cheerleaders, do we?

Another yes. Yes we do. Not all the time, but we definitely need them when it matters. Don't just be there for someone because they're coming out of a bad relationship, have gotten laid off, or worse, have suffered the loss of a loved one. Although, those are really good times to step up and show you care.

The bottom line is this: You can support someone without liking their work.

Be the friend you say you are. If someone close to you is putting themselves out there for the world to see, let them know that you're still there for them, win, lose, or draw. It's easy to talk about the lighter side of life. It royally sucks when you can't talk about the scary, the serious, or any of the other "what ifs" that go bump in the night.

We who are looking for support, are not looking for "Yes Men." It sure would be nice to know that you're rooting for us though.