There is a famous quote that says ‘friends are the family you choose.’ Although none of us may say this quote out loud in front of our friends, lest we want to endure a lifetime of teasing, this quote goes a long way. The desire to just talk to someone was so strong that it often overcame distance and space. A listening ear, a supporting shoulder, and a comforting tongue, that’s what friendship is in its truest essence, minus the teasing and the taunting of course.
Making friends becomes even more difficult in adulthood, especially when you are ‘settled’ and ‘established’ in one place and the idea of starting someplace anew sounds scary and stupid. Moreover, groups have already been formed and adults are often less accepting of new people over people they have known for years, people who have cried and celebrated with. However, there is always room for one more person in your life, and all the color and beauty, and wisdom they have the potential of bringing into your life.
We build human connections through friendship, which provides us with a sense of belonging and counter the sense of alienation and loneliness that often seeps into our life from time to time. Friendship also helps our mental health and helps us in retaining and re-establishing our core values as we experience life with some very close people around us, who teach us a lot about ourselves and the world along the way. Friendship is a familiar force and a source of comfort during times of uncertainty, which helps in maintaining and building our self-esteem and confidence. And most importantly, friends bring the utmost joy and humor into our routine lives, making every day a new adventure.