Be a good friend

We often move in a range of circles. We have family, work colleagues and professional contacts as well as many casual acquaintances. Yet one of the most important to us are our friends.



Having lived in several different cities, often moving to a place where I have no friends, I have learnt the value of friendship and of being a good friend to people. I have also noticed how many people seem to have no idea how to be a good friend to someone else. People who don't seem to have the skills to be a good friend often are the ones most lacking in friends.

In this how to we will look at how to be a good friend.

Time: Good friends last a lifetime

Materials
Yourself
Your friends

Method

When you are good friends with someone you have fights, have arguments and disagreements, but in the end you will remain friends. Friendship is more than a skill - it is a moral test.



We don't have to hang out with our friends all the time, after all many of them can be annoying or have completely different interests and ideas than ourselves. However this doesn't stop making them our friends.


One trick to make lots of friends quickly is to go and ask people for help. Usually if people are able to help us they feel friendlier towards us. However it often seems that those that are always asking for help lose their friends quickly, because they are reluctant to help anyone back.



A good friend always helps their friends when they can. If you are not prepared to help others then you will have trouble keeping your friends.


Let's face it, I can be pretty annoying and boring at times. This is true of most people though. Friends are people we choose to spend time with. A good friend is always looking at ways to entertain their friends. Boring people never learn this and often have few friends. I have made lots of good friends by hosting interesting events.



It isn't that you shouldn't talk about your interests and problems, but if that is the sum total of being friends with you, listening to your problems, maybe people won't want to be friends with you.


I like the fact that my friends come from (and live in) many different countries, have very different backgrounds and live very different lives. Yet good friends always share a connection. I have friends through hiking, others through learning Chinese and other friends that come just from enjoying trying new things.



A good friend will try to find the common interests that they share with their friends and take time to learn about them.


It is amazing how many people forget the value of being friends with someone. Go out and be a good friend to your friends.

Categories
#life_skills
#life_
#self_help_


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