Companionship / Kameraadskap

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“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”

Mark Twain

What do we call that good feeling that comes from being with someone else? Yes: companionship, and please do not confuse this with “relationship”. The etymology of the word “companion” is one that I often share with people, and I will also share it with you here. Bread in Latin is panis, and the prefix “com-” in Latin means “with, together”. The word companion therefore literally means someone with whom you break bread. Isn’t that a beautiful description? Amelia Earhart says that the more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the more genuine may be one's appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love, and understanding companionship. Choosing and having good companions is therefore of extreme importance. If you surround yourself with good companions, you will have good guidance and encouragement. This will not be the case when you keep company with bad ones. It is also good to have companionship with individuals unlike yourself, who care little for your pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities are beyond your appreciation. This, says Nathaniel Hawthorne, may contribute greatly towards your moral and intellectual health.  If your companion is a loved one, so much more the better. Bertrand Russell said that those who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give. The feeling of fellowship is soothing and will fill any feeling of loneliness. So, it does not matter whether you experience a sense of companionship with a friend, family member or romantic partner, that feeling of closeness is so important for your well-being. Yes, studies have shown that those who lack companionship are more likely to fall victim to mental and physical illnesses. Friends and companions are important for more than just their physical presence in your life. They help your body resist illness and keep your mind sharp. And they help combat loneliness, of course. I hope you have a companion or two in your life…

Don’t let slip,
the importance of good companionship.

In companionship you break the bread together,
through kind and stormy weather.

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“As jy die volle waarde van vreugde wil geniet, dan moet jy iemand hê om dit mee te deel.”

Mark Twain

Wat noem ons daardie gevoel wat by mens opkom wanneer mens saam met iemand besonders is? Ja: kameraadskap, en vir die doeleindes van hierdie gesprek vra ek dat jy dit asseblief nie sal verwar met “verhouding” nie. Die Engelse woord vir kameraadskap is companionship. Die etimologie van die woord “companion” is iets wat ek gereeld met andere deel, soos wat ek dit ook nou hier sal doen. Brood in Latyns is “panis”, en die Latynse voorvoegsel “com-” beteken “saam”. Die woord “companion” beteken dan letterlik “iemand saam met wie ek brood breek (eet)”. Is dit nie pragtig nie? Amelia Earhart sê dat hoe meer ons doen en sien en voel, hoe meer opreg sal ons waardering wees vir die fundamentele dinge soos jou huis, liefde en die begrip vir kameraadskap. Dit is so belangrik om goeie kamerade te kies en te hê. Wanneer jy jouself omring met kamerade van formaat, kan hulle ‘n bron van goeie leiding en bemoediging vir jou wees. Nathaniel Hawthorn sê dat dit raadsaam is om kamerade te hê wie nie soos jy is nie, individue wie min omgee vir jou strewes, en wie se kapasiteite nie binne jou belangstelling val nie. Dit, sê hy, kan grootliks bydra tot jou morele en intellektuele gesondheid. Indien jou kameraad jou geliefde is, soveel te beter. Bertrand Russell sê dat diegene wie nie die intimiteit en die intense kameraadskap van wedersydse liefde ervaar het nie, het die beste wat die lewe kan offer, misgeloop. Die gevoel van kameraadskap is strelend vir die siel en sal enige leemte van eensaamheid vul. So, jou kameraadskap mag een wees met ‘n vriend, familielid, of romantiese metgesel, dit maak nie saak nie, weet net dat daardie gevoel van deelsaamheid en naby-wees, so belangrik vir jou welstand is. Ek wil net bysê, studies het gevind dat diegene wie geen kameraadskap het nie, meer ontvanklik daarvoor is om ‘n slagoffer te word van psigiese en fisiese ongesteldhede. Vriende en kamerade is belangrik vir meer as net hul fisiese teenwoordigheid in jou lewe. Hulle help inderdaad om jou denke skerp te hou en jou liggaam gesond te hou, en natuurlik om eensaamheid die hok te slaan. Ek hoop en vertrou jy het ‘n kameraad of twee in jou lewe…

Moet nooit die waarde van ‘n kameraad

onderskat nie… Dit mag jou later in die rug steek.

Eendag, wanneer jy alleen sit op straat,
sal jy wens jy het iemand gehad om mee brood te breek.

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