What does a friend mean? A teenage girl close to my house asks me, who is enjoying the student recess, as part of the summer period that put an end to the 2023-2024 school year.
I answered her… a friendship is an affective relationship between two people, built on the basis of reciprocity and constant treatment, making use of values such as loyalty, love, solidarity, unconditionality, sincerity and commitment.
The young woman interrupts me… In order to be good friends, does there have to be a special connection? I confess… Yes, the connection enriches our lives by bringing great emotional and social value. Motivated by the conversation, other questions arise in the neighbor’s mind. How can friendship be strengthened? Simple, I answer her… A friend is there to listen to us and comfort us in times of difficulty or sadness, to celebrate our successes and joys, to generate a confidence that allows us to be ourselves, without fear of being judged.
Thanks to friends we learn and grow; they help us to see things from different perspectives and inspire us to be better people. But let me explain more… Friendships can arise in different scenarios and in different situations, from your own school, where we work, at parties, in hospitals and through other friends or social networks.
There are friends with whom we have a more distant relationship, and there are others with whom we are so close that we consider them best friends. Friendship not only arises from affinity with those with whom you have those common interests, but it can appear between very different people. Sometimes the differences strengthen the relationship, because a good friendship complements and enriches the person.
The young woman asks me once again… Can I be a good friend to you? Without a doubt, I tell her… Friends are built on a daily basis, who share paths, ideas, feelings, hobbies, or when we give help and shelter, we are building a solid friendship.
Once the conversation was over, the young woman that I have seen grow as my neighbor, thanked me, declaring to be a friend to accompany me in good times and bad.
