介绍:
Friendship is both a source of pleasure and a component of good health. People who have close friends naturally enjoy their company. Of equal importance are the concrete emotional benefits they derive. When something sensational happens to us, sharing the happiness of the occasion with friends intensifies our joy. Conversely, in times of trouble and tension, when our spirits are low, unburdening our worries and fears to compassion-ate friends alleviates the stress. Moreover, we may even get some practical suggestions for solving a particular problem.
Adolescence and old age are the two stages in our lives when the need for friendship is crucial. In the former stage, teens are plagued by uncertainty and mixed feelings. In the latter stage, older people are upset by feelings of uselessness and insignificance. In both instances, friends can make a dramatic difference. With close friends in their lives, people develop courage and positive attitudes. Teenagers have the moral support to assert their individuality. The elderly approach their advanced years with optimism and an interest in life. A positive outlook is vital to cope successfully with the crises inherent in these two stages of life.
Throughout life, we rely on small groups of people for love, admiration, respect, moral support, and help. Almost everyone has a "network" of friends: co-workers, neighbors, and schoolmates. While both men and women have such friends, evidence is accumulating that indicates men rarely make close friends. Men are sociable and frequently have numerous business acquaintances, golf buddies, and so on. However, friendship does not merely involve a sharing of activities; it is a sharing of self on a very personal level. Customarily, men have shied away from close relationships in which they confide in others. By bottling up their emotions, men deprive themselves of a healthy outlet for their negative feeling.
People choose some friends because they are fun to be with; they “make things happen". Likewise, common interests appear to be a significant factor in selecting friends. Families with children, for instance, tend to gravitate toward families with children. It is normal to befriend people who have similar lifestyles, and organizations such as Parents without Partners have appeared on the scene as a natural outgrowth of this tendency. These groups provide an opportunity to socialize, make new acquaintances and friends, obtain helpful advice in adapting smoothly to a new lifestyle. Other groups focus on specific interest such as camping or politics. It is perfectly acceptable to select friends for special qualities as long as there is a balanced giving and taking that is mutually satisfying.
Very close and trusted friends share confidences candidly. They feel secure that they will not be ridiculed or derided, and their confidences will be honored. Betraying a trust is a very quick and painful way to terminate a friendship.
As friendships solidify, ties strengthen. Intimate relationships enrich people's lives. Some components of a thriving friendship are honesty, naturalness, thoughtfulness and some common interests.
Circumstances and people are constantly changing. Some friendships last “forever"; other do not. Nevertheless, Friendship is an essential ingredient in the making of a healthful, rewarding life.
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