Warrior’s Friend – by David Johnston

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve had a friend. Part by design, part by default. I just don’t get the traditional, “Hey, let me be your buddy” relationship. To me, there needs to be something greater, something stronger to create the bond that ties us together. It can’t be small talk about the weather, or a favorite sports team. No, it needs to be something of legitimate value, some larger concept or purpose or devotion or cause for which we must universally fight, lay our lives on the line, and make our own.

Not everything in life has to be casual. Not everything in life has to be laid back. Casual and laid back are not always good things. Sometimes, injecting passion and purpose into one’s day, despite being scoffed at as “too serious”, makes a whole lot more sense.

See, I have this “latch-on” syndrome: when I find something I love, or someone I truly care about—lover, friend, family member, or just genuinely interesting person—I tend to latch on, fully, and feed from the lifeblood of that relationship, gathering sustenance from the shared values, ideas, passions, that feeds my spirit and helps me fight another day, with all of my strength, hatred, rage and insanity.

And when I spot another creature on this planet with certain values I hold dear, well, I latch on.

Sometimes it makes sense to fight for your values. Not with ice-bucket challenges, nonsensical Internet donation drives, “donate to me” links, or stand-up comedy specials begging for your bucks.

Sometimes, it makes sense to fight without beginning. Sometimes, it just makes sense to fight.

But how?

By living like giants, by living huge and wearing that band of identification on our sleeves—to walk the planet as a warrior, as the unsettling and disgruntled type who wanted a bit more, who never settled, who was never satisfied, who knew there were bigger things, larger goals, loftier ideals, just around the corner…

…and then we met, my friend, my lover, my wife, my daughter—those with whom I choose to populate my existence. Not my Facebook friends, and not those I “like” with the meaningless click of a button. No, I’m talking the real thing, with real passion, burning sensation and desire that trickles through veins and compels one’s best.

I am not looking to be all-inclusive. I am not looking for sheer numbers. Wars and ideologies are not waged and conveyed by the masses. Wars and ideologies are waged and conveyed—and won— by singular individuals who had the foresight, will, and passion to bring ideas to life, and impose their vision on the world.

We are not looking to embrace everybody with open arms. We are looking to embrace OUR kind—those willing to work a little harder, and not bitch about it; those willing to plan a little better, and not feel penalized for it; those willing to hustle, those willing to not speak of “fair” and “unfair” in a universe that is neutral; those who understand that the payoff is more in the process itself, rather than the destination to be reached someday.

We are looking for you, if you’re ready. But ONLY if you are ready. There will be no sugarcoating, bullshitting, or babysitting. At times, it will be tough—this is life, people, and LIFE IS TOUGH! Nothing will be handed to you, and you will have to work for, and earn, every single cell of muscle fiber that you accumulate, painstaking workout by painstaking workout.

BUT, the reward: you will know that YOU did it, that it was NOT handed to you, that you are DIFFERENT—not one of the milquetoast masses that populate our modern world, with your nose stuck in a phone like that’s the essence of existence and what it means to be alive. Your reward will be holding your head up HIGH while you walk, with a focused gaze, a straight walk, and this long-forgotten relic known as “pride” beaming from your face.

Are you ready to don your warrior’s mask, and beckon the call? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend.

-David A. Johnston