Quite a big word. It means so many things.

I imagine a parent who wants his child to succeed in life, keeps telling him that he has to be ambitious, that is to say, to aim for something higher, bigger, stronger, to have a better life.

It is curious how this word is found in the dictionary well before others, which also have their merit. It is found before happiness, courage, desire, education, honesty, greatness, humility, imagination, justice...

If we ask a young person today what his ambition is, he will say that he would like to be the best soccer player, the first astronaut to go to Mars, the President of the United States, the head of a big technology company, a movie actor, a singer like Elvis Presley, a doctor who will discover the cure for cancer, and so on...

There is no harm in dreaming, is there?

By the way, what is ambition?
Here is what the dictionary says: Desire to achieve glory, power, social success. Moreover, an interesting example is given: 'a man devoured by ambition'.

These few words can be disturbing, considering the orientation they propose. For if we associate them with our political leaders, they explain to us the why and how of their attitudes.
Does every ambitious person desire glory and power? Not necessarily.

However, if we consider the synonyms of our word, we find: Competition, aspiration, emulation, rivalry,  whose desires are always virtue, fame, honor and celebrity. Besides, isn't being eminent remarkable? And if we add to this competence, skill and talent, do we not have the model par excellence of a worthy nature?

And that's what every parent wants for their offspring!
However, ambition is often used as an eager and enthusiastic desire, an unwavering and unyielding goal or purpose.
I asked a 19 year old man what he thought of ambition and this is what he told me: It's the desire, the aspiration, the will, the passion to do something, to get where you want to be in your life. But I'm not ambitious, because I'm lazy, I don't have excessive expectations.
Now, there is an ambition that is noble and wise, while another can be selfish and harmful, even detrimental.
I will expand on the synonyms used above to better appreciate this dear subject:
Aspiration is striving for something beyond ourselves, such as wisdom or virtue.
Emulation is not so much about being excellent or successful but also about being equal or surpassing others. There is a noble emulation, when we desire to surpass those who are noble and the means used to do so are worthy and valid.
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Aspiration, on the other hand, seeks a great quality of character for its own sake, without reference to others.
Competition is the search for something desired by another at the same time.
Emulation considers the abstract while competition considers the concrete. Rivalry is similar in meaning to competition. We talk about competition in the business world, emulation in schooling, rivalry in love, politics etc...
In light of this information, we only need to look around us and be able to distinguish with whom we are dealing. And, in doing so, adjust our aim.
Know this: ambition and desire can indeed bring you up the ladder and generate satisfaction... but it can also be counterproductive. Permanent dissatisfaction makes you unhappy... The one who knows how to be satisfied is also the one who knows his own balance.
And finally, I will produce a word from an author who has just left us See the power of ambition, he once said, as if he were mocking his own self-esteem and the ambition that devoured him to such an extent that, because of it, men are ready to crawl lower than the ground. ...Amos Oz, A Story of Love and Darkness

Aspiration, on the other hand, seeks a great quality of character for its own sake, without reference to others.
Competition is the search for something desired by another at the same time.
Emulation considers the abstract while competition considers the concrete. Rivalry is similar in meaning to competition. We talk about competition in the business world, emulation in schooling, rivalry in love, politics etc...
In light of this information, we only need to look around us and be able to distinguish with whom we are dealing. And, in doing so, adjust our aim.
Know this: ambition and desire can indeed bring you up the ladder and generate satisfaction... but it can also be counterproductive. Permanent dissatisfaction makes you unhappy... The one who knows how to be satisfied is also the one who knows his own balance.
And finally, I will produce a word from an author who has just left us See the power of ambition, he once said, as if he were mocking his own self-esteem and the ambition that devoured him to such an extent that, because of it, men are ready to crawl lower than the ground. ...Amos Oz, A Story of Love and Darkness

I wrote many praises and was sure that friendship was part of it.
I just realized that it wasn't, so I'm coming in now to address that, especially since I just had a really good lunch with a friend John, who brought up the subject.

What is friendship?
Friendship is an emotional relationship that occurs between two or more people, in which an affinity occurs and through which individuals share values, beliefs and special moments.
What is most important in friendship is the loyalty, commitment, support and sincerity between friends.

Yes, I have read a lot about friendship and even collected several wise words that many have spoken before me. So it won't be very difficult to look them up and apply some wisdom to my text. One of them says that friends are angels who lift us up when our wings don't know how to fly. I found this one sympathetic.

I just finished reading this very interesting man's book, an Auschwitz survivor who, at the age of 100, wrote this amazing book called: The Happiest Man on Earth. He talked about this friend he made in the camps, Kurt, and he said:
A good friend is my whole world. Of this friendship he said: More than the food we shared, the warm clothes or the medicine, it was the most important thing. The best balm for the soul is friendship. And with that, we can do the impossible.

I challenge the reader to ask if their friend will say good things about them when they are not around. For your true friend will appreciate you despite your achievements. It was Euripides who said: A faithful friend is worth ten thousand relatives

Throughout our lives, we have the opportunity to meet hundreds of people, but it is only with some of them that we can create lasting friendships over the years. The moments shared with these people will be a series of unique and irreplaceable moments, especially during childhood.
Friendships are a fundamental part of each person's individual growth and development. Living and sharing experiences with friends is a part of life.

And here is a beautiful message from none other than the man whose biblical criticism and writings on ethical relativism are the work of Benedict (Baruch) Spinoza. He said, "Of all the things that are beyond my power, I esteem nothing higher than to have the honor of entering into friendship with people who sincerely love the truth.
A great honor for friendship.

Many will say that in friendship there must be room for quarrelling, but also for reconciliation, remembering that this must take precedence over self-interest. We don't need to wait for people to be friendly. It is up to us to show others that this is a treasure.

By developing a friendship, people show themselves as they really are, without shame or fear of being judged. Friendship involves respect, acceptance, understanding and trust. Between friends, there are no masks to hide the real you.

Friendship is made up of a series of family, moral and social values that make it unique and special. Loyalty is a fundamental element of friendship. Being loyal among friends means respecting decisions, giving support, taking time to listen and advise. Friendship is built over time, which means it requires a commitment of time. However, this time cannot be measured or calculated, it must simply be lived and shared. True friendships cross the barriers of time, because no limits are imposed.

Throughout life, we experience various circumstances that can test a friendship. However, if the friendship is true and committed, any misunderstanding or bad situation can be overcome.
Between friends, there are always commonalities and disagreements, the important thing is to find common ground to maintain balance and allow mutual respect and understanding to prevail.

I can conclude with a few words that can sum up the value of this magic word: Friendship is responsive. It is something we live and share. It is also a loyalty built over time. And why not the search for balance.
Take the time to choose a friend, a friend who will give you the freedom to be yourself.  And yes, this friend can sometimes become a thief of your time.