Each person should know that no matter what's going on in their lives, they can always be able to turn to their friend. That's what friendship is all about... and that's what makes friends so special. 

A friendship is a sacred thing to have with someone and must be handled the right way or you can lose it. At times we may tend to take a friend for granted ...or feel that they will always be there no matter what... but we need to work on friendships like any other relationship in our lives. 

With a friend you should be able to be yourself no matter what...no masks... no pretences...be able to share your own thoughts with your friends. Tell them about your life, your recent experiences, and your innermost thoughts. At the same time being there for them, willing to care enough to listen and being sympathetic to their needs and concerns as well. 

In the hustle and bustle of life, being flexible is always important for maintaining friendships. Friends may have to suddenly change plans ...if there is something you have been looking forward to for a long time, being flexible helps one cope effectively with disappointment without much regret. 

Conflicts are inevitable and it must be resolved effectively for a friendship to continue. It is worth the effort and time to confront and talk it out... and give yourself time to cool off before you rejuvenate the friendship... and things do get back to normal again. 

A marriage, a baby, a transfer are all forks in the road of life when paths begin to separate. This is the most important time of all to stay in touch with friends. 

 
Lets look at how you could keep a friendship going: 

Communication 
Send emails, call once a week, send an occasional card - cards take minutes to choose and you can find one for every occasion... Send pictures - a picture is worth a thousand words. 

Meeting Up 
Exercise together - it is great to go for a walk in the park with a friend and share a lot of fun ... Go out for lunch together ... Reminisce on past experiences... Memories. 

Appreciating Each Other 
Friendship requires a listening ear... it is important to respect a friend's point of view, to support and praise your friend, admire their achievements, while ignoring failures and imperfections. Never betray trust, as trust when violated can ruin even the best friendship. 

 
Be ready for a few disappointments as you should also understand that friends come and go and at times you may need to let go of some friends if you feel that they are not the type of person that you had envisioned them to be. You may feel a sense of loss, but friends who do not support you are not really friends. It may be hard to let go initially, but eventually, the pain will subside. 

While there is no single recipe for happiness, Ed Diener a psychology professor at the University of Illinois and co-editor of "Well-Being," found almost all happy people have good friends. Seems there's one more health reason to put down the remote... or shut down your computer and pick up the phone or go out there and make a friend... believe me it's worth the effort! 

If you would like to discuss this further or need some help or support in this or any other area, our counsellors would be happy to help. 
 
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Call 1800-258-8999 / 1800-258-8121