Friendship fees are fun to give and fun to receive, simply because they aren't associated with birthdays or Christmas or any other special occasion. They are just for fun. Just a way for a one pal to say to another, "Hey, I'm grateful for you. It's nice knowing you."
If you were to take the "Love Languages" principles into consideration, you can draw a suitable parallel between these expressions of affection and friendship fees too. It's not always about the giving or receiving of a tangible gift. Sometimes it's an affirming word. You pay your friendship fees when you tell you buddy which of two outfits is more flattering. Friendship fees are paid when you babysit so your pal can go to the hairdresser, or if you just sit together, quietly, when you know that she just needs you to be there. Sometimes the fee is in the form of a massage, or painting your way-too-pregnant home-girl's toenails for her, the night before her induction.
In joking about Friendship Fees recently, and taking to heart the mother of the year's all too wise words, I've come to the conclusion that being a friend is a lot like banking. You deposit time and effort. You invest. You make withdrawals. You grow your friendship over time. And hopefully, after years of careful capital control, your investment has grown into a substantial and solid portfolio.
Same with friendships. You wouldn't put your money in an investment that earns no interest, right? So why put your time and energies into a relationship that offers no interest?
I'm just saying... 's all.
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