The benefit of friends

[Parthon]

I've seen a few posts here that are quite negative in tone, many of them expressing their pains about being lonely and friendless. I'm not sure how many of them honestly want a solution, or just how many of them want to wallow in their self pity and prove to the world they are a lonely failure.

What I do want to say though, is why it's awesome to have good, close friends and that no amount of money could really replace them.

Friends listen. A good friend really listens to you, whether your complaining about your horrible day at work, or just running a new idea past them, having an open ear can really help you think it through and get to the other end. It's very handy when all you want to do is just tell your story and get it off your chest.

Friends discuss. As well as listening friends can be a great help when it comes to discussing things. They can see flaws in your plans that you can't see because you are too close to it. They can open you up to new ways of thinking that you hadn't previously been aware of. They can help you formulate and solidify your reasons and opinions regarding things that are important to you.

Friends introduce you to new experiences. The number of times my friends have invited me out to do things which are new and itneresting is staggering, most of the time it's food though, and I love food. Because everyone is different, everyone has different hobbies and pasttimes they enjoy. Having a diverse group of friends allows you to experience way more of these without having to get fully involved by yourself.

Friends help. Sometimes when you are stuck you just need a helping hand to get you going again, and this is what friends are perfect for. Many people can do 9% of their daily living on their own without a hassle, but it's that last 5% where you really need someone else, and that's where friends become important. Have you every tried to move a fridge to a new house without friends? It's damn hard.

Friends offer comraderie. Nothing bonds between friends more than going through a difficult situation with them. Why? Simply because the situation isn't as difficult when you have someone there. Dire circumstances are always twice as bad without someone to share them with. Misery may love company, but it's always less miserable with friends.

So if you ever wonder why you should have friends, or even what's the point, these are five good reasons why friends are important. They are also a guide to how to be a better friend to others.

Who else can think up some more?