Make New Friends and keep the older one also: Friends are Forever

Friendship Takes Time

Thanks to television, the telephone, and the World Wide Web, we have become a society of people who expect to get everything we want in an instant. We flip on the television and we are immediately entertained, we pick up the telephone and are instantly connected to anyone in the world, and because of the internet, we can get almost any information we want with a click of the mouse and a few key strokes.

Unfortunately, not everything in life can happen that quickly. Some things take perseverance, work, and time. Establishing good, long lasting friendships is one of those things.

How Long Should It Take?

It depends on how you define friendship. If you consider someone you have an occasional beer with after work a friend, then it might not take you very long to find new friends. However, if you are looking for a deeper relationship that is based on traits like trustworthiness, loyalty, and dependability, it will take more time to find out if a person you want to befriend has those qualities.

Think about your personal definition of a friend if you’ve created one. How long do you think it will take to find out if a person meets each one of the points you’ve outlined? A week? A month? Years perhaps?

Don’t Be Discouraged.

If you’ve created a definition of a friend that has a lot of “meat” to it, it might me be a while before you discover whether a potential new friend fits the bill. Don’t let that discourage you.

If you’ve ever gone on a vacation with friends whose company you really enjoy, I’m sure you found that getting to your vacation destination was just as much fun as being there. As you traveled along you talked, you laughed, and you where filled with pleasurable anticipation of what was to come. The same is true as you strive to established new friendships. Enjoy the ride as you travel towards your goal.

Weathering the Friendship Storms

A friendship worth having takes time to develop so that it can weather any friendship storms. What are friendship storms? Like any other relationship, problems will arise. Misunderstandings will happen, arguments will occur, feelings will be hurt, and your friendship will be put to the test. Friendships that have developed over time can withstand these storms and become even stronger.

So, relax and enjoy the processes as you make new acquaintances that blossom into friendships. The benefits are worth the wait.