Why Are Friends Important in Life

"Friends are your associates and colleagues and the ones who stand by your side. Studies have shown that having friends is good for your mental and physical health."

The value of friendships

Researchers have found that friendship is important to people’s well-being and happiness. Even in Ancient Greek times, this was known, as the Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. They keep the young out of mischief; they comfort and aid the old in their weakness, and they incite those in the prime of life to noble deeds.”

Friends provide a variety of components to our lives and are important in many areas, as Aristotle suggests. They can be a comfort, like family. You can exercise with a friend to keep fit or help each otherstop smoking. Friends may be the only people to tell you the truth. They can be mirrors, enjoying the same hobbies and interests and allowing you to enjoy your passions with someone who shares the same. No man is an island, as the poet John Donne and Thomas Merton’s book title suggest. An old French saying from Delille says the same thing, translated as: Fate gives you your parents, but you can choose your friends.”

Friends can not only form part of a personal support system but also provide business contacts and lead to networking and employment opportunities. The new social network enhances these types of personal connections and also allows people who are far apart to stay in touch. The success and popularity ofsocial networking sites attest to the human being’s desire for connection. Those who can’t reach loved ones in person can call and connect with a variety of video services and voiceover Internet options to stay in touch. Friends can become colleagues and turn into business associates, and friends can make the best marriages, too, some say. A study with more than 300,000 people showed that those with friends live longer. Research also shows that people with close friends have a 50 percent chance of a longer lifethan those who don’t have close friends.

Introverts and extroverts

Human beings are programmed to connect with other people. People who are introverted find comfort within themselves and can tire from the company of others. Those who are extroverts find comfort with others and not by themselves. Both types of people are better off when they do have friends than when they do not, even if it is taxing or challenging for introverts to find new friends. People with a severe inability to connect with people can suffer from various types of pathology or social disorder, such as Asperger’s syndrome. These people have trouble feeling empathy for others.