Saturday, July 4, 2009

"What is a friend?


A single soul dwelling in two bodies". - Aristotle

Perhaps the one relation that has survived the trials and tribulations of time and has still remained unconditional is friendship. A unique blend of affection, loyalty, love, respect, trust and loads of fun is perhaps what describes the true meaning of friendship between two individuals. Similar interests, mutual respect and strong attachment with each other are what friends share between each other. These are just the general traits of a friendship. To experience what is friendship, one must have true friends, who are indeed rare treasure.

Different people have different definitions of friendship. For some, it is the trust in an individual that he / she won't hurt you. For others, it is unconditional love. There are some who feel that friendship is companionship. People form definitions based on the kind of experiences they have had. This is one relation that has been nurtured since times immemorial. There are famous stories about friends in mythologies of different religions all over the world. They say a person who has found a faithful friend has found a priceless treasure.

Psychologically speaking, friendship may be defined as "a dynamic, mutual relationship between two individuals. As children become friends, they negotiate boundaries within which both partners function". This helps them to function like healthy individuals in life as they learn to draw a line as and when needed in a relation. This greatly helps in the emotional development of an individual. However, any relation needs constant nurturing and development from all the people that are involved in one. Friendship cannot survive if one person makes all the effort to sustain it without any mutual recognition from others.

Since friendship starts the moment a child starts socializing, the kind of friends that the child chooses should be taken care of till the time he / she learns to differentiate between right and wrong. Wrong peers or lack of socializing can lead to severe psychological traumas and disorders, finally leading to social maladjustment. The correct peer group is essential for the development of the personality of a child. Both positive and negative experiences refine the personality of the individual. Thus it is essential that you find friends who are compatible with you on an emotional and psychological basis. "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies". - Aristotle

Perhaps the one relation that has survived the trials and tribulations of time and has still remained unconditional is friendship. A unique blend of affection, loyalty, love, respect, trust and loads of fun is perhaps what describes the true meaning of friendship between two individuals. Similar interests, mutual respect and strong attachment with each other are what friends share between each other. These are just the general traits of a friendship. To experience what is friendship, one must have true friends, who are indeed rare treasure.

Different people have different definitions of friendship. For some, it is the trust in an individual that he / she won't hurt you. For others, it is unconditional love. There are some who feel that friendship is companionship. People form definitions based on the kind of experiences they have had. This is one relation that has been nurtured since times immemorial. There are famous stories about friends in mythologies of different religions all over the world. They say a person who has found a faithful friend has found a priceless treasure.

Psychologically speaking, friendship may be defined as "a dynamic, mutual relationship between two individuals. As children become friends, they negotiate boundaries within which both partners function". This helps them to function like healthy individuals in life as they learn to draw a line as and when needed in a relation. This greatly helps in the emotional development of an individual. However, any relation needs constant nurturing and development from all the people that are involved in one. Friendship cannot survive if one person makes all the effort to sustain it without any mutual recognition from others.

Since friendship starts the moment a child starts socializing, the kind of friends that the child chooses should be taken care of till the time he / she learns to differentiate between right and wrong. Wrong peers or lack of socializing can lead to severe psychological traumas and disorders, finally leading to social maladjustment. The correct peer group is essential for the development of the personality of a child. Both positive and negative experiences refine the personality of the individual. Thus it is essential that you find friends who are compatible with you on an emotional and psychological basis. "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies". - Aristotle

Perhaps the one relation that has survived the trials and tribulations of time and has still remained unconditional is friendship. A unique blend of affection, loyalty, love, respect, trust and loads of fun is perhaps what describes the true meaning of friendship between two individuals. Similar interests, mutual respect and strong attachment with each other are what friends share between each other. These are just the general traits of a friendship. To experience what is friendship, one must have true friends, who are indeed rare treasure.

Different people have different definitions of friendship. For some, it is the trust in an individual that he / she won't hurt you. For others, it is unconditional love. There are some who feel that friendship is companionship. People form definitions based on the kind of experiences they have had. This is one relation that has been nurtured since times immemorial. There are famous stories about friends in mythologies of different religions all over the world. They say a person who has found a faithful friend has found a priceless treasure.

Psychologically speaking, friendship may be defined as "a dynamic, mutual relationship between two individuals. As children become friends, they negotiate boundaries within which both partners function". This helps them to function like healthy individuals in life as they learn to draw a line as and when needed in a relation. This greatly helps in the emotional development of an individual. However, any relation needs constant nurturing and development from all the people that are involved in one. Friendship cannot survive if one person makes all the effort to sustain it without any mutual recognition from others.

Since friendship starts the moment a child starts socializing, the kind of friends that the child chooses should be taken care of till the time he / she learns to differentiate between right and wrong. Wrong peers or lack of socializing can lead to severe psychological traumas and disorders, finally leading to social maladjustment. The correct peer group is essential for the development of the personality of a child. Both positive and negative experiences refine the personality of the individual. Thus it is essential that you find friends who are compatible with you on an emotional and psychological basis.

Just For You...FRIEND


I can't give solutions to all of your life's problems, doubts, or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will search for the answers.I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain, nor the future with it's untold stories. But I can be there now when you need me to care. I can't keep your feet from stumbling. I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall. Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine; Yet I can share in your laughter. Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge; I can only support you, encourage you, and help you when you ask. I can't give you boundaries that I have determined for you, But I can give you the room to change, room to grow, room to be yourself. I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting, But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces and put them back in place. I can't tell you who you are. but I can only love you and be your friend and your Kiddo ..... …. Forever and Ever.

Making New Friends........



Solitude is enjoyed by any individual. Spending time with oneself and indulging in some fruitful introspection is something that many people crave for, but unfortunately do not find time for the same. However, when this solitude becomes loneliness, it can get problematic. Finding new friends is not at all difficult provided you keep an open mind and be confident of yourself. Always remember that tomorrow's friends are in fact today's strangers. So if you are looking for tips for making new friends, read further. We bring some ideas and suggestions for how to make new friends.

* To make new friends, the first thing you need to do is, meet up with new people. This should be quite simple as your neighborhood should have a club, school or any other small organization. Go there and talk to people. You will be surprised to see the response you get. Don't be too haughty or condescending. It is far more important to be nice than be interesting. So once you get into a social circle or group, making friends is not tough at all.
* Look approachable. You need not dress up in dandy clothes or wear loud make up to attract people. More than artificial make up, simplicity attracts people. Smile often, make eye contact, don't look too tensed and listen to what others have to say.
* Accept people the way they are. Unnecessary fault finding, critically analyzing each and every individual will not work if you want to make new friends. No one is perfect; you are not either. Everyone has faults and the way to make friends is by looking at the positive aspects of the individual. In case you don't like someone's behavior, it is better to avoid than create a rivalry.
* Try to keep your communication channels open. Don't sit back relax and expect lasting friendships to occur. It requires communication from both sides. So call up people you have just met, email old friends who have moved away, drop in occasional sms just to say hi. You will be pleasantly surprised at the responses that you get.
* Show people you are reliable and can be trusted. In a new group, ask if you could something to drink or invite someone over. Exchange phone numbers and don't forget to call up. Remember, it is essential to take the first step to begin the journey of an ever lasting friendship. When someone entrusts you with a work, give it your best shot.
* Last but not the least, don't forget old friends. If they have moved away or if you have moved away, be in touch with occasional phone calls and emails. Don't leave old friends for the sake of new ones.

Friends' Secret..........


It is rightly said that one can share any secret with a true friend. He may know your deepest fears and weaknesses and yet will never take advantage of you. However, keeping a friend's secrets to yourself and not telling the world about is what makes the bond grow strong and last forever. You need to develop a trust and mutual understanding before you start sharing secrets with each other. With friends, secret talks never seem to end and it can get really amusing to know what has been going on in your friend's mind.

It is a general notion that only girls share secrets. But boys have their own secrets that they discuss with only closest of pals. The secret talks can range from crushes, relationships, talks regarding fights with parents, secret missions, hideouts and anything that is not supposed to be known to others! If you think secrets are limited to only teenagers, get your facts right! Secrets can be shared at any age and there is absolutely no such hard and fast rule that secrets are shared only among youngsters.

Sharing secrets with a friend is not just fun, but it also helps to develop a lasting trust on one another. Sometimes, sharing secrets will tell you more about the person. You will come to know whether your friend is reliable and trustworthy and whether it is worth sharing your secrets with them. You can call it a test of friendship and if a person passes it, he / she is definitely worth being made a trustworthy friend.

Pen Friends.......


Pen friend, also known popularly as Pen Pals is quite a popular way to make new friends. Pen friendship is developed when people write to each other regularly through postal mail. Mostly, pen friendship aims at learning other cultures, different lifestyles and to even get rid of loneliness. Some pen friends in due course meet up. Others remain pen friends forever, exchanging letters and gifts every now and then. Some pen pals eventually lose touch and their friendship doesn't last long. In case you are unaware about how to make penpals, read on.

The easiest way to make pen pals is by joining a pen pal friendship club. There are many such clubs that offer pen friendship all over the world. You can choose your own age group, occupations, hobby, likes and dislikes or even choose someone from a totally different environment and culture. You can gain much broader understanding of the world and numerous cultures it abounds in by joining a pen pal network.

A more modern version of pen friendship is e-friendship. To save time and energy, pen pals these days exchange letters and cards over the internet. It not only saves time but also money and energy. It makes conversation much more immediate and fast. One doesn't have to wait forever for the traditional snail mail to arrive. Online pen friendship is quite popular these days and is being followed by many people these days. It is the newest way to make friends.

Old Friendship............


It is easy to find friends but very difficult to maintain them for a long time. Some people are blessed to have friends who stick to each other through thick and thin and never ever break the relation with time or distance. Others take time to open up with people and some others don't feel confident about themselves at all. Long lasting friendship does not happen in a day. It takes years to develop and needs equal efforts from both sides to make it work. Some childhood friendships actually develop into long lasting friendship since it is a result of mutual understanding and undeterred trust.

People swear by the power of old friendship. The fact that there is always a trusted friend to fall back upon in times of need is very re-assuring. Friends who have been with each other through highs and lows; friends who have seen each other fail and rise again; friends who have seen each other laugh and cry and yet stood by each other accepting the good and the bad points are true friends who can maintain long lasting friendship. The bond that is formed is so strong that even long distance cannot deter it.

Childhood friendship is usually formed when the young kid gets to know his immediate classmates and neighbors. Though they fight and cry at first like other normal kids, with time the true friends begin to emerge from fair weather friends. The secret to long lasting friendships is not giving up on each other. It is inevitable that they grow up, form their opinions, have different temperaments and attitudes and possibly have different lifestyles. Yet, they hold onto each other and respect each other's opinions and attitudes. In a way, they compliment each other. They say true love is rare, but finding a true friend who stays around forever is something that life offers to very few.

A PERFECT ND A TRUE FRND...........


This short story on friendship is very inspiring and tells you about true friendship. It teaches a valuable lesson about friendship and how friends should be. Every short fable or tale on friendship has some valuable lesson it it. So check out this short story about friends.

Long time ago in ancient Greece, there was a man named Socrates who was highly knowledgeable and an esteemed philosopher. He was approached by a fellow one day. That person told Socrates that he has some information to tell him about his friend. Before he could even start talking about his friend, Socrates told him to take a test known as the Triple Filter Test.

The first test was the filter of truth. Socrates asked him if the information he had was the truth. The person said that he had just heard it on the way and was not sure if it was the absolute truth. The second filter was that of Goodness. He asked if the information was regarding anything good about his friend. The man said it was actually the opposite. The third filter was that of Usefulness. Socrates asked if the information was useful to him in any way. The man replied in the negative.

Socrates then replied that when the information regarding a friend is not true, good or useful, then why it should be conveyed at all. The moral of the story is that you may always participate in loose gossip, but when it comes to your friends it is just not worth it. You know your friends better than others. So you must avoid talking behind the back of your dearest friends. It only leads to strained relations and shows that you are not reliable or trustworthy as a friend.

Friendship Day Celebrations.........


Friendship Day truly calls for celebrations and is the perfect occasion to let your friends know how they are and how cherished is their friendship. It is celebrated all over the world with much delight and grandeur. Today the celebrations have gained so much popularity that we also have a friendship ambassador - Winnie the Pooh. No matter how busy you are, take out time from your schedule to spend time with your friends. In case you are thinking of how to celebrate Friendship's Day,

Organize a Friendship Day Party
It is the time to celebrate and show everyone how special is your friend. Organize a party for the sake of friendship and splurge upon everything; right from the invitations to the décor to the party favors. Raise a toast for your friendship and prepare everything that your friend likes. Your friend will not forget this party for a lifetime!

Catch up on a Movie
What better way to celebrate Friendship Day than watching a nice movie together with friends. If there is a good movie playing in the theaters, you can go there with your friends and also have lunch or dinner outside. If not, then you can get some cute movie DVDs on friendship and watch it at the comfort of your home.

Friendship Day Letters.........


Perhaps one of the most thoughtful gestures of friendship is a hand written, heartfelt letter. Letters can be the ultimate gift for your dearest friend along with a bouquet and a box of chocolates. These letters for your friends are priceless treasures that he / she can possess. You can pen down your innermost thoughts for your friend in a letter and be sure that he / she is surely going to like it. Your letter need not be polished and a literary piece. Your feelings will be best if expressed in your words and simple language. For Friendship's Day letter ideas, read on.

* Don't write your letter on the paper of a notebook. You are writing a thoughtful letter for your best friend, not copying school notes! Choose a nice letter pad that has a small cute illustration on a corner.
* You can always decorate your letter with glitter and colors. Draw out nice patterns on the sides of the paper so as to form a frame. Use some glitter sporadically to make it look a bit interesting.
* If you have a picture together, you can either scan it on the paper or stick it as it is. The picture should highlight a special moment together and bring fond memories of the time when the picture was taken.
* If you don't have a picture, draw a cartoon that looks like you and your friend. Make it funny and remember, you don't have to be perfect. It should highlight a special moment that you have shared like cycling together, playing at the beach, a make-over, etc.
* Begin on a light note, proceed towards a comic tone and finally end it with an emotional touch. You can also use emotional quotations to end your letter.
* If you like to use rhyming words you can always write out a short poem for your friend. Give it an appropriate title or just name it "For My Best Friend". You can mention each other's nicknames, fun moments, or a special memory that you both particularly enjoy.
* End the letter on an emotional note and don't forget to thank your friend for being there for you always.