Friendship

Every year, first Sunday of August is celebrated as Friendship Day, and the week preceding this friendship day is celebrated as friendship week. 

Post-Covid, as the schools re-opened, children celebrated this friendship week with full zeal. I saw my 7-year old exchanging cute friendship gifts like message cards, colourful bracelets, chocolates, unicorn pencils etc😊.

I am not sure whether they all understand the true meaning of friendship or not but seeing their excitement, I remember a quote read on social media- "When I say I miss my school, I mean my friends and fun, not the school." Truly, this shows that the best and memorable times from the school are the one's spent with our friends- pure and innocent.

Then come college friends. After school, college friends come as a blessing to understand the confusions of teenage- confusions from inner world to outer world. It is said that-'Friends you make in college are the friends you'll have for life'. This is also the age of songs like- "Yeh dosti hum nahi todenge..." These are the friends which accompany you from your 'gaffes and fallacies' to your 'bachelor/bachelorette parties' to your 'parenthood.'

When you become parents, another zone of friendship starts, especially for women. We get some pregnancy and post-pregnancy buddies. If the girls don't have, they should intentionally look out for these buddies. Venting out the hormone talks to bodily changes to life upheaval after kids to your friends is very important. An understanding partner could be the best buddy in all stages of life.

Workplace, colony, society, our children's friends parents- we get to know many people throughout our life. Are they all friends? The meaning of "friend" according to dictionary is- a person you know well and like, and who is not usually a member of your family. The word 'like' is very important here😀. We get to meet many people across our life. They can be knowns, colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances but not friends. Still I feel, you may encounter a best friend at any age. Be alert and be friendly😀.

The trend of nuclear families and "hum do, hamara ek" insists the need of having friends. In recent years, the importance of friends has increased a lot. Every being looks for a same-age companion in growing up years. Though it is said that 'a mother is girl's best friend or a father is boy's best friend' but still parental instincts and parental inhibitions intervene. Non-judgemental friends set you free- to express your feelings, insecurities and desires. The famous hindi movie 'Zindagi na Milegi Dobara' is a great filmification of friendship.

Recently, I came across a journal article by Oxford Academic titled- "Friendship in Later Life: A Research Agenda." The article, in gist, explains the impact of friendship on health, happiness and ageing. It says that- This one relation called 'friendship' can endure across whole lifespan. Approximately 3 lakh + participants from 99 countries were included in the survey. It was also revealed that- Women, people with higher education levels and people living in economically- equal countries, placed more value on friendships. 

Rightly, friendship is vital for older adults to age gracefully and happily. Friends are like saviours in that age of social isolation. I often see groups of elderly adults in evenings- sitting, chilling and singing which is a great assurance of happy ageing.

So, everyone out there, have friends, celebrate this special day of friendship, rather celebrate friendship every single day- in person or on calls/ memories for the friends who are physically far. Though friendship bands could be the things of children, but friendship goals can be achieved by friendly laughs and exchanges. And if you feel like tying a friendship band, remember, age is no bar. Go ahead, tie one, to your dear friend- 9, 19, 29, 49 or even if you are 99...

Happy Friendships'