Friendship 101

Good friendship is healthy but it isn't easy for everyone. It’s OK if you don’t fit in with ‘majority’, but sometimes we are so unique that we are left all alone, with no friends. This is why I'm writing a quick and simple 6 step guide on how you can find friends, and keep them. I don't guarantee much, but hey! at least you tried.. right? Even though having many friends may not guarantee happiness; it still may play a key role in our lives.

So let's start..
1. Find your old friends. The first thing you should do before gettig new friends is finding your old ones. We've all had friends at some point of our lives: school, work, church, etc. Old friends are easy to re-establish a connection with: just ring or email; don’t feel shy about it, as they’ll likely be delighted to hear from you and they’ll want to get you caught up on all their news.

If this isn't a good idea then we're back to square one. There are lots of reasons why you might want to be brave and develop some new relationships. Perhaps you’ve moved away from all your friends. Perhaps you’re deliberately been seeking to put the past behind you. So you're next option is..

2. Find another lonely person. If you find yourself lonely and pathetic, you need to find someone else that is going through the same stage that you are going through. Maybe someone else has the qualities you have, or likes the same things you like. Try and look for them. Maybe if you go to the places you like to go, or do the things you like to do.. you'll find people to spend time with. Example: There's normally more than one lonely person in a park, right? So, why not go talk to them? Don't get me wrong! I don't mean that you should stalk them, and freak them out (remember that if you scare them away, we're back to zero) so just be friendly. Remember: "Friendship improves happiness and abates misery by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief." - Marcus Cicero

3. Make them like you. After you've found someone to talk to..then..getting people to like you is the starting point, and that should be fairly easy to do. People have a basic need to be liked themselves. Show interest, appreciation, and kindness. Smile. Praise given out sincerely is a great act of friendship. Be a good listener and try to see the good, not the bad qualities in people. These actions will usually be returned to you, sooner or later. (Hopefully sooner than later)

4. Once you’ve made contact, stay in touch. Now that you have someone to talk to, then you have to keep in touch. Remember: Communication is the key in friendships. I find Facebook very useful for keeping track of all my friends – almost everyone I know uses it, and it’s an easy way to see what everyone’s up to. Email is also great, since it’s instantaneous and free.

5. Hang out. Now that you've got a friend, now you can have some fun. I love spending time with my friends, and doing fun stuff with them. Don't go back to your routine of being lonely and pathetic. Take care of your friendship and help it grow. Example: Your new friendship is like a plant. It has to grow, but in order to grow it needs some help. You need to feed it, give it some air, and light. Only with care and love will it grow. So take care of your friend(s) and appreciate them!!

6. Keep your friend(s). Lastly, as a friend, try to let an unfavorable incident or remark fly right over the top of your head. We all blurt out something stupid or do something regrettable at times, and it's so nice when the other acts as if it never happened. Simply, be a friend to your friends.

Ok so, those are my 6 step guide to how a person can find friends and keep them. I've honestly never tried them, but I have tons of friends so I think they should work! lol.

Remember: "The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words."

Because the only way to have a friend is to be one. . .