FRIENDSHIP

Friendship is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association and it is a fact that people with close friendships are much happier than others who are deprived of the same. A true friendship is entirely based on affection sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism, mutual understanding and compassion. This relationship is an enjoyment of each other's company with a sense of belongingness, trust, and the ability to be able to express one's feelings etc. While there is no practical limit on what types of people can be friends, yet it is not necessary that friends may tend to share common backgrounds, occupations, or interests, and have similar characteristics.

During childhood, friendships are often based on the sharing of toys or your personal belongings and the enjoyment received from performing such activities together is an altogether a different experience for such type of friendship is basically retained through affection, sharing, and creative playtime. Adolescent friendship is mainly based on school activities and interaction, studying together, a healthy competition with each other etc. Life events such as marriage, parenthood, and accelerated career development complicates friendships in the evolution from young adulthood to middle adulthood.

Older adults prefer familiar and established relationships over new ones therefore their friendship continues in old age. With age, elders report that the friends to whom they feel closest are fewer in number as they tend to choose friends whose age, sex, race, ethnicity, and values similar to theirs. Although there is a tremendous difference between male friends, female friends, and male-female friend pairs as all share the qualities of having the potential to influence each other’s lives. If we restrict ourselves to one certain type of friendship, we may be missing out on bonds that transcend gender boundaries.

Friendship is important, even though we have blood relatives, friends are the family we choose.  Friendship is not a need, it’s not a thing and it’s an affection that unknowingly is coincidentally attached. They share all our feelings, feel happy at our success and sad on our failures and never let you feel lonely.  They are the ones who are always there, whether the times are bad or good.........standing as our moral support, even if the situation is worst. They even advice at times when we are confused or disturbed.  We can even share our darkest secret with them without them expecting anything in return. They stay with us throughout our life working as the biggest support making us feel secure. It is not necessary to have a huge entourage of friends; one single trustworthy friend is a blessing in disguise and a gift of God. Surrounded with good people always makes us a good person in return.

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