“Have you noticed how little attention is paid to something like friendship?”

After all, adults have plenty of other things to worry about: where to make money, what kind of car to buy, which preschool to enroll their daughter in, how not to forget their wife’s birthday…

And friendship is something frivolous, childish. This is to chase a ball in the yard, catch crucian carp or smoke behind the garages.

There are a lot of things on a grown man's checklist. It includes a house, a tree, and a son.

And, of course, it's very important to get married. Or to have a mistress. Or both.

Not a word about friends. 

It turns out that was completely unnecessary.

Psychologists, sociologists and other smart people have discovered that having friends is actually very beneficial. According to their research, people who have friends are less likely to develop depression, nervous disorders, chronic illnesses, and even heart attacks.

In addition, they are simply much happier with their lives than single people.

And it turns out to be an interesting thing. Spending time with friends is no less important than making a career, strengthening the family hearth or playing sports.

It turns out that all these seemingly unproductive activities (going bowling with friends, hitting the sauna, going fishing, or just having a beer on Friday) actually make sense!

Moreover, such communication is the key to health and longevity.

It’s really great to have good friends. And this is exactly the kind of situation where quality matters more than quantity. Although, I think you can’t really have that many truly close friends to begin with. I’m talking about people with whom you can share your deepest thoughts, who will support you in tough times and be happy for you when everything is going well. Deep, meaningful relationships.

But it turns out that even if there aren't any, smaller connections will do just fine. Weak social ties also have a lot of power.

You can sometimes find support in unexpected places: a clerk at a local shop, a barista, a trainer at the gym… Sometimes, just talking to a stranger can make you feel better.

In fact, scientists have been sounding the alarm for a long time. People have stopped being friends.

Of course, COVID added to the problems. Well, in those countries where they didn't treat it with hockey but imposed actual lockdowns. But even before the pandemic, the number of social contacts had been steadily declining.

Gadgets are to blame. 

Social media, which was supposedly created precisely to connect people, has had the opposite effect.

We started talking to each other much less often. And that meant it became harder to be friends.

Besides, we're not kids anymore. And a sandbox isn't enough for a new friendship.

If you have completely forgotten how to make friends, it does not matter.

You could think back on old acquaintances you’ve somehow stopped talking to. You could mentally go through your contact list and figure out who you enjoy spending time with—who seems interesting.

Reach out to people you'd like to be friends with. Invite them somewhere: to a game, to a bar, to a quiz night, or over to your place. Who knows, the interest might be mutual.

You can be friends with your neighbors and coworkers—as well as with people you've met at events or while playing sports.

And even with family members.

A natural question is whether a wife can be a friend. The answer is – it can! And this, in fact, has only advantages. Especially in emigration, when the social circle changes and shrinks in one way or another. It's great when you and your wife can support each other.

It's harder to be friends with other women because an erection can sometimes get in the way of that kind of friendship. But that's a whole other topic…

Sociologists strongly recommend even talking to strangers.

Of course, in this day and age, that sounds like complete nonsense.

But it's not as difficult as it may seem. You are standing in line together, you are in the next seats in transport, you met at an event. You can always find something in common to cling to. And then - how it goes. If it goes well, it's great! A new acquaintance. If he doesn't work, well, God bless him! That's the charm...

People are social creatures. It is important for us to be accepted and heard, to feel supported, to help others and to be helped. 

And I think it’s especially important to be friends in these turbulent times, when war, emigration, repression, and television are constantly trying to convince us that we don’t know how to be friends.

We can do it!

Let's give each other a hug, brothers!