How to make FRIENDSHIPS last forever?

Friendships are the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”   

– Muhammad Ali

If I said, friends are a blessing, it would be an understatement. My fondest memories are of friends and friendships. We all have a huge myriad of memories when it comes to friends. From getting into trouble to pulling each other out of sinking sand, the memories are countless. Defining friendships is never easy. Friendships bring to our world, happiness, comradeship, love and most importantly enhance our journey of life.

As I sat through reading all my messages and the display of love and affection on social media, I reminisced of the many promises of friendship. I wondered, how much of this digital display of affection was real and how much of it would last forever. The only digital display of friendship that has come closest to describing what friendship really is, is the popular sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Friendships have always pulled you through the worst of your phases and been part of your tiniest celebrations. Let’s admit it, whether and introvert or an extrovert, we all need friends. Some friendships are definitely not immediate for sure.Friendships are known to have a vast influence on our social, mental and emotional well-being. However, such friendships don’t happen overnight! You need to nurture and protect your friendships. Every relationship needs a little effort and balance I believe.

While, we all have our set of comrades, some of us still struggle to keep friendships going or to make new friends. Through years I have literally relied on my friends for everything and maintained friendships across continents! Here is what I feel is needed for friendships to last forever.

Acceptance

Accept each other for who you are! We definitely want to change the bad into good but the acceptance comes first. Friends need to feel comfortable with each other. My tribe of people are the people I strongly trust and with whom I can be who I want to be!

Respect

As we grow older, we have stronger opinions about things.  We seldom tend to impose out opinions on others. Respect in any relationship is imperative. Respect the likes and dislikes of your friends. You need to understand their need for privacy as much as you respect their willingness to blabber! Friends always need to feel better after spending time with each other. If you truly love your friends, respect comes automatically.

Support

Even though I was corrected for my wrong doing by my friends often, I was always supported. Supporting your friends doesn’t just mean covering up for them, the support extends way beyond it. Friends and friendships have a really special place in my heart. I cannot imagine my life without the support of my friends.  We have laughed at others and at each other but the support has always been constant.

Keep in touch

We have definitely graduated to online friendships in recent years. Yet, we all know, how having a large number of friends on social media doesn’t really help always. I have built some great friendships through social media indeed. However, I always make sure to keep in touch with my friends. Even if it’s a small phone call or a small text asking them of their well-being, I make sure to keep in touch. Every relationship needs TLC and friendship tops the chart!!

Be honest and trust each other

The strongest foundations are built on trust and honesty. Share your feelings as they are and you will open doors of communication. Trust each other and talk to each other often. You may not necessarily party with your friends often, but you need to make time for them. Make sure you work through your disagreements too, I recently did and realised it wasn’t a disagreement at all!  

Not everyone can be your friend

I am someone who is naturally friendly to everyone. This habit of mine has led me to face heartburns too. I have realised that everyone will have their own likes and dislikes. Not everyone I meet can be my friend and vice versa. I find it imperative to build on the quality of relationships I build rather than focusing on the quantity. Do not let rejections from people make you loose your worth. Believe in yourself and your friendships.

I honestly can go on and on about friendships. How there are no rules to friendships and how friends need to be forgiving and so on. Communication plays the biggest role in nurturing and developing great relationships. Honestly, I just try to be the friend that I would want others to be to me. A simple quote that summarises friends and friendships as honestly as it can

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

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