Make New Friends, Keep the Old: As We Silver, They Are Gold
"Friendship is incredibly important as we age. As we age, friendships serve as a buffer from work, caregiving demands, tensions in the larger world, etc. Friendships can help counter some of the loneliness and fear that often accompany aging. For those living alone, friendship can also help counter isolation and remind us that someone else in the world is looking out for us, is concerned about us, and will be there in a time of need.
Research on friendship tends to categorize and make a typology of different friendship groups. Broadly speaking, there are lifelong friends, best friends, good/close friends, and acquaintance-type friends. It is helpful to remember that each category of friendship—and the personalities of our various friends—can serve different purposes and functions and fulfill different emotional needs, all of which can nourish and sustain us.
Friendships can provide us with a partner for thinking things through, for doing activities with us that can be more fun in the company of another person, and for challenging us to become the best versions of ourselves.
We also might benefit from learning something new from a friend—perhaps something to do with the other person's culture, religion, or political viewpoints. With a friend, hopefully, we can be more open and ask and answer questions more honestly, even about touchy subjects. This can lead to vulnerability, openness, and growth.
There is no magic number for how many friends a person needs or should have. Enjoying a diverse group of friends at the various levels of friendship alluded to above is healthy. The problem comes when a person becomes overly reliant on one person to fulfill what a variety of friends could and should provide.
In the end, friendships, on all the levels they exist, offer something that enriches our lives."
Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!
Reflection:
What do you love about your friends and how grateful are you for them?
#Friendship #Relationships #Gratitude
@comfortableNight4463 @comfortableNight4463 I have been quite unlucky with friends but I still believe in the power and importance of friendship. I really believe in "Show me your friend and I'll show you your future". And because friendship is indeed important it is crucial that we choose our friends wisely and help them improve insted of dragging ourselves down with someone who basically needs our help to thrive. Thank you so much for the post!
@calmDew1576 Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree, choosing good friends can be so tough but it's very important as well. It can be tough because people tend to change. Friends could go from loving to cruel all in one day. But in the end, the true ones stay.
@comfortableNight4463 Since I started dating my now husband and moved to a different city, I have lost touch with my friends. I have been living in this city for 18 years and have not found any friends. My neighbors are a lot younger than I and have very busy lives. Right now with my depression being so bad, I just do not have the energy to even try to find a friend. Although my husband and I have a good relationship I still get lonely for a good friend that I can go and do things with and to share my most deep secrets with and for that person to do the same. I have always wanted to have a sister but all I ended up with was brothers who I am not close to due to the way they live their lives.
I really think that everyone needs at least one close friend. Friendships help with one's out look on life.
@Judy7 I'm so sorry. Moving away can be so tough especially after you've built good friendships. I hope you're able to find some new friends. Thanks for opening up.
@comfortableNight4463
Great article night!<3
I love how supportive and empathetic my friends are!
I am immensely grateful for them! :)
Thanks for sharing!💛✨
@innateJoy9602 Thank you! Your friends sound amazing. I wish you all well. Take care!