A good friend is made of characteristics similar to a good pizza.

Think for a moment about the best tasting pizza you have ever eaten.

Which qualities made it tasty? I may be going out on a limb here, but I bet it was a combination of things in just the right combination that put a smile on your face after that first scrumptious bite.

The same qualities that made your pizza a favorite can be applied to the qualities of a good friend.


Impossible you say! Well, think about it.

Maybe it is not as far-fetched as it may seem. Let’s start slowly.

First, think about the location where your favorite pizza was prepared. Was it a pizza shop? Your home? Was the location filled with clutter or unsightly litter? I’ll bet that the space where you enjoyed your last good pizza was uncluttered because clutter brings problems.


I know that I would not enjoy eating pizza in a cluttered space. The very sight of mess or disarray would probably turn my stomach. I might become ill. And feeling ill would not be good for me in the long run.


The same condition holds true for a good friend. A person with a cluttered mental space cannot be a good friend. Why?

Because an individual with a cluttered mental space will often produce cluttered thoughts…and cluttered thoughts often create problems for everyone involved. A cluttered mental space is jumbled and filled with chaos. And neither you nor I need that because it would be bad for us in the long run. Therefore, a good friend has a clear mental space (at least most of the time).


Let’s get back to that pizza! What was the dough like? Pizza dough is very important because it holds the pie together. Was it soft and chewy or firm and crispy? If the foundation of the pizza is not intact, then it will not be very good to eat.


Likewise, a good friend should have a solid foundation. His or her life should be a pivotal example of honor, trustworthiness, and kindness.

Certainly there are other important attributes that make a good friend, but these three attributes are most important to me. In my opinion honor, trustworthiness, and kindness act as the anchors of a good friendship. And without these qualities, I do not feel it is possible to lay the foundation for a good friendship.


And next there is the sauce. Some pizzas have lots of sauce. When you were eating that last good pizza, did you bother to notice whether your pie had sauce or not? I am speaking of tomato sauce.

Although we often do not think of a pizza’s tomato sauce as healthy, it can be in moderation. The tomatoes used in the sauce provide trace nutrients that are not only good for your palate, but may also be good for your health.

Good friends can be good for your health. A good friend helps you feel better when you are feeling dark blue. A good friend brings out your best even if you do not want to be there.

A good friend also provides the nourishment and nuturance you need when you feel the world is against you. And a good friend will exercise with you if it makes you feel better---even if the exercise activity consists of a five-mile run in pouring rain. Trust me, I know.


Next there is the cheese. Oh wonderful cheese!

Actually, cheese is tricky. There are many types of cheeses and some work better on pizzas than others do.

Did your favorite pizza come with ricotta, mozzarella, provolone, or some other combination of melted cheeses?

Each cheesy combination defines the flavor of the pizza. A sharp cheddar flavor will taste distinctively different than what a mild muenster would taste like. But, the wrong cheese or cheese combination can make an otherwise good pizza taste horrible. Cheese gives the pizza personality!


Cheese is to pizza as personality is to good friend.

I look for a positive, upbeat personality in a good friend. He or she should have just the right combination of friendly personality traits. A good friend will not be overbearing, nor will he or she be a pushover.

An overbearing person will bring a bitter flavor to the friendship. Conversely, a pushover cannot hold ground; therefore there will be little or no inspiration which makes for a tasteless pizza. 

A good friend will have a flavorful personality in just the right combination.


Finally, we cannot leave out the toppings. A mouth-watering pizza usually has one or more toppings.

Maybe you like mushrooms, onions, green peppers or something else on your pizza. What are your favorite toppings anyway?

Did you know that the toppings add variety? Think about it. Various toppings on a pizza can change an average tasting pizza into a delectable tasting one.


Similarly, good friends will add variety to your life! You will be inspired and sometimes compelled to participate in the swing of the moment.

Joy and security will become more abundant. And since there is a give-and-take dynamic in all good friendships, you will learn the qualities of being a good friend to someone else--- because you must first be a good friend before you can have a good friend. 


Hey,  the pizza I heated is almost ready now. Would anyone care for a slice?