Age and time have a funny relationship: Sure, they both move in the same direction, but the older we get, the more inverse that relationship can feel. And as work and family commitments take up a drastically outsize portion of that time, it’s the treasured friendships in our life that often fade. A recent study found that the maximum number of social connections for both men and women occurs around the age of 25. But as young adults settle into careers and prioritize romantic relationships, those social circles rapidly shrink and friendships tend to take a back seat. The impact of that loss can be both social and physiological, as research shows that bonds of friendship are critical to maintaining both physical and emotional health. Not only do strong social ties boost the immune system and increase longevity, but they also decrease the risk of contracting certain chronic illnesses and increase the ability to deal with chronic pain, according to a 2010 report in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
A friend is a person capable of loving irrespective of whether he is being loved or not. It transcends age and could subsist between even an old man and a small boy. The concept of friendship needs exploration because often a man is known by the company he keeps. “If there are certain days or weeks where you are going to be less available, giving your friend a heads up can go a long way toward minimizing misunderstandings or conflicts where somebody feels left out or like they’re being ignored. Spending time with happy and positive friends can elevate your mood and boost your outlook. Having an active social life can bolster your immune system and help reduce isolation, a major contributing factor for depression. Change in friendship creates uncertainty, and uncertainty can be frightening as, in ability to allow change can lead to the end of friendship and if we lose a friend, we have to change how we see ourselves and our life. The fragility of a friendship is directly connected with honesty. Breakups are hard, there’s no doubt about that. But what makes them slightly more bearable is when you have your best friend there to help you pick up the pieces. And, that’s why breaking up with your best friend is worst. Losing your person is something we could never forget. When a friendship breaks apart in deep hurt or anger, however, the negative feelings can make it very difficult to put the pieces back together again. Even if the bond was very strong before the break, it will take time to repair the damage and rebuild the connection. There are instances when it may be impossible, undesirable or detrimental to restore a served friendship. But, when both the parties have the desire and are willing to put in the effort, it can be possible to restore what was once a cherished bond. Developing close friendships can also have a powerful impact on your physical health.
Whenever separated meet in such a complicated situation, whenever such circumstances occur in such friendship, one must try best level to console them. Friendships have a huge impact on your health and happiness. Good friends relieve stress, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness and isolation. Making a new friend is just the beginning of the journey. Friendships take time to form and even more time to deepen, so you need to nurture that new connection. Treat your friend just as you want them to treat you, be reliable, thoughtful, trustworthy, and willing to share yourself and your time. Be prepared to listen and support friends just as you want them to listen and support you. No one is perfect and every friend will make mistakes. No friendship develops smoothly so when there’s a bump in the road, try to find a way to overcome the problem and move on. It will often deepen the bond between you.
(The author is a student at Kashmir Law College Srinagar .His views are personal)
