5 Ways to Pick Friends Wisely I grew up on a large cattle ranch in a remote part of Wyoming.We were hours away from the nearest small town so I went to a little country school with one other pupil-my brother. During my grade school years,I didn't count my brother as a friend.Instead,we took turns taunting each other at recess. It was a lonely existence.When I started to attend a public school at the age of fourteen,I quickly learned that friendship building is an art,and one that can be quite messy at times. Back then,I wasn't picky about friends.I just thought the more,the better.Friends meant I was popular,and when you're a kid who is different from everyone else,that matters a great deal. At first I thought that once I grew older,friendships would be more sincere and less superficial.I also used to believe in Santa Claus,so call me gullible.I spent a great deal of my early life lacking confidence in my ability to make my dreams come true. And then there was always that exhortation from adults to "Quit dreaming...be practical!"As I've gotten older,however,I've realized that I deserved better than friends who either would not or could not help me become my best self. Plato once said,"People are like dirt.They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die." Jesus said the same thing in his parables when he warned against putting down roots in poor soil.If we are not nourished,our souls will choke and wither away.It has been said that we grow where we are planted,and rich soil is likened to a noble and good heart. Pick your friends with care-they create the environment in which you will either thrive or wilt.Give everyone the opportunity to be a friend,but share your dreams and goals only with those who value them as much as you do Here are 5 ways to pick better friends:5 Ways to Pick Friends Wisely I grew up on a large cattle ranch in a remote part of Wyoming. We were hours away from the nearest small town so I went to a little country school with one other pupil—my brother. During my grade school years, I didn’t count my brother as a friend. Instead, we took turns taunting each other at recess. It was a lonely existence. When I started to attend a public school at the age of fourteen, I quickly learned that friendship building is an art, and one that can be quite messy at times. Back then, I wasn’t picky about friends. I just thought the more, the better. Friends meant I was popular, and when you’re a kid who is different from everyone else, that matters a great deal. At first I thought that once I grew older, friendships would be more sincere and less superficial. I also used to believe in Santa Claus, so call me gullible. I spent a great deal of my early life lacking confidence in my ability to make my dreams come true. And then there was always that exhortation from adults to “Quit dreaming . . . be practical!” As I’ve gotten older, however, I’ve realized that I deserved better than friends who either would not or could not help me become my best self. Plato once said, “People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die.” Jesus said the same thing in his parables when he warned against putting down roots in poor soil. If we are not nourished, our souls will choke and wither away. It has been said that we grow where we are planted, and rich soil is likened to a noble and good heart. Pick your friends with care—they create the environment in which you will either thrive or wilt. Give everyone the opportunity to be a friend, but share your dreams and goals only with those who value them as much as you do. Here are 5 ways to pick better friends: