In movies and television shows groups of people are able to effortlessly maintain close friendships for decades, but it’s really not that easy. Friendship may seem like it should be one of the simplest things in life, but the truth is you have to work hard to build and maintain your friendships over time.
Part of the problem is that so many things can get in the way. People take on new jobs, move away, start families and it’s just so easy to drift apart. Sometimes people who were once very close end their friendship over an argument, and years later they don’t even remember how it started. That’s why PeopleFinders decided to visit some real experts; we met with a group of people who were better than 80 years of age and listened closely to their thoughts on the subject of long-term friendships.
At times they told us what we already knew, that you have to work hard to make and keep your friends, and they gave us advice on how to make that happen. One individual gave a basic, but very solid tip: “The key to a lasting friendship, number one, is to communicate, communicate, communicate.” We got the message; if you want to stay close to your friends you have to talk to them, listen to them and really share your life with them.
Proper communication is a key factor, but sometimes the ability to know when to hold back is just as important. One of our friendship specialists told us: “In life and friendships, sometimes you just need to bite your tongue.” It boils down to the old saying that you have to pick and choose your battles. Now and then you won’t agree with your friends, but there are times when it’s better to let them have their say than to argue and risk losing your friendship.
Another bit of advice we received from our panel of authorities addressed the fact that sometimes friendships do come to an end. “A fight with a friend is like a sliver in your finger – it will stay there, fester, and get infected for days, months, or even years.” No two people will ever agree on everything, and one of the sad facts of life is that sometimes even the best of friends decide to go their separate ways.
So many people have lost touch with friends over an ancient argument, a long distance move or just the passing of time. What can you do when you want to reconnect with the people who once shared your life? PeopleFinders.com can help. Our People Search will help you find anyone, anywhere and we also offer a Membership that helps you find all the people you want. Turn to us when you decide to rebuild those long-lost friendships, because it’s never too late to reconnect.
Cherish your friends, and put in the time and effort it takes to keep them close. It can be tough, but in the end it’s always worthwhile. Friends are an essential part of our lives, and as another of our elderly experts expressed: “Friends are like a good set of teeth, you’ve got to treat them well or they won’t last.” We couldn’t agree more.
Read more about what our expert panel had to say here, and thank-you for reading the PeopleFinders.com People Search blog.
Tags: Advice, Communicate, Experts, friends, Friendship, Long Term Friendships, People, People Search, reconnect
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