# “Friendship The River Of Life…”

Life is a voyage on a vast ocean.

We go through many ups and downs in life. In the midst of this big voyage, we come across many voyagers who turn out to become friends for life or friends for some time. Everyone has friends, I have many friends and a few bosom friends whom I can open to. We have online friends too, don’t we? All of us need friends and if we have good friends, then our life will blossom beautifully. There is a saying “Show me your friends and I will tell you what you are.” and that’s very true. The most sublime expression of human relationship is the reality of genuine friendship. Friendship enables a person to experience love, acceptance, and freedom. Often friendship gives meaning to our life. It promotes care, concern, honesty loyalty, confidentiality, and understanding.

Friendship is a commitment between two human beings that guarantees happiness and joy in the worst tribulations. True friendship lays no conditions, it accepts us as we are. We can make a friendship stronger by accepting others as they are. By respecting the feelings of others, by acting selflessly and above all by believing others whom we love.

There are different types of friends. A good and true friend always holds hands through the worst times. And encourages good qualities, honesty, and open relationships. There are friends who are good motivators. They help their friends tackle situations when they are in a confused state of mind. Some friends are gossip mongers, they love to gossip about anything or everything. They cook up stories and make them look believable. There are friends who care and give genuine support and make you take the right decisions. They stand with you through the thick and thin. Some become friends and are associates or acquaintances with no much personal relationships. Some act like friends but can never be trusted. Some disappear when the need arises and keeps off until the problems and troubles pass by. Some are jealous of their friend’s efforts of achievements and success.

A friendship should be based on mutual beliefs, attitudes, and desires. Conflicts in personal relationships can be avoided if friends acknowledge each other views. We often take things for granted, giving an ear to a friend is a very important step to build a strong relationship. Empathy, loyalty, and trust in a friend help to maintain good relationships. Affirmation is a powerful tool for friendship. We must be liberal in complimenting our friends. It takes time to become the best of friends. Every person shares the awards and benefits of giving and receiving everything equally.

The best days of one’s life is always their childhood. The beautiful memories of childhood are cherished by each one of us. “Friends Are The family We Can choose”. Facebook, social media is one of the major platforms which has helped all of us maintain and keep long lost friends and relationships all over the world. I still do remember how my batch of 1987 got together after a long gap of 25 long years. We had all parted after school,  and only a few of us continued together at college. After college, many got settled and became NRI’s. My batch was like a broken chain of beads that had gone scattered all over. In 2011 Facebook helped us to get in touch with each other. It took us a few months to coordinate each other and reunite after 25 years.  The reunion in 2012 helped us all to get back together and keep our relationships not only with our classmates but with their families too.

     

“A Good friend Is Invaluable”. There are times when we meet a person and get the feeling that this person is going to be my Bestie, it’s like a sixth sense. You and your bestie tend to have the same tastes and opinions for everything. You feel free to be open to each other and turn to your bestie for advice. You enjoy every moment of being together. You respect and accept each other for what and who you are. You can never be apart from each other and you constantly keep updating each other in every way you can. A true friend helps us to grow emotionally and mentally and will also help us become a better person, a better companion, and a better partner.

Another important fact we should know is If we need to be accepted as a good friend. We should first be our own selves and be our own friend. We should respect ourselves and not lose our self-esteem for the sake of others. We should be trustworthy and loyal. We should apologize and accept our faults. We should try and spend quality time together to make the friendship grow strong.No one is perfect, everyone is human and has their own faults. Constant nagging can mar the relationship than mending it. So it’s better to get things solved on their own. Even bosom friends can go apart for reasons of their own and nothing can be done to mend their relationship. It’s better to leave and live without spite.