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Essay on Friendship – Meaning and Advantages

Meaning of Friendship

Friendship is a relationship between two or more persons sharing positive emotions of affection and companionship. As against more formal relationships, either by birth or marriage, this relationship is not based on binding rules. It is more informally determined by the friends sharing the particular relationship.

You can be completely honest and open with true friends and yet not feel judged. This can even be therapeutic for some people. With them you can laugh, cry or share silly things that are your personal self. At the same time, friends also show you right from wrong. Friends sometimes even sacrifice their own happiness for you as is portrayed in popular films and literature.

Usually friendships develop in one’s own age group. Though it isn’t rare to find friends of vastly different age groups. Friendships can be short-lived or long-lasting, depending on nature and circumstance. True friendships often last a lifetime.

Advantages of Friendship

Psychological

  1. Friendships satisfy one of the most basic human needs, as a social being.
  2. Friends are your strongest emotional support in difficult times.
  3. A person with healthy friendships is a more peaceful and happy person.

Health

  1. People with happy friendships live longer and healthier.
  2. Friends are your biggest motivators for healthy life choices about exercise, diet, training, etc.

Personal

  1. Friendships can sometimes evolve into more formal relationships like marriage.
  2. Friends are your best constructive critics.

Academic

  1. Some of the best friendships develop during one’s educational life. The shared educational domain nurtures the relationship. With school friends we learn to solve problems together.

Professional

  1. Friendships can even develop in shared work spaces or with shared work interests.
  2. They are often the basis of any good professional team.

Financial

  1. Friends may share financial strengths and challenges with each other. This can be a great stress-reliever.
  2. They do also share each other’s financial growth.
  3. You can always count on them for support during financial difficulties.

Social

  1. Friendships are the backbone of one’s social fabric and life.

Your identity

  1. Long-lasting friendships become a part of who you are as a person.

Conclusion

Friendships are an integral part of everybody’s life. Developing happy friendships is a vital survival skill. True friendships will stay with you through all ups and downs of life. Learn to value and nurture your friendships, and you will lead a happier and healthier life.

By: Janhavi