Photo by Christina Cerda

Numerous studies have shown that having a large circle of friends provides us with some distinct advantages when it comes to navigating our way through life. People with lots of friends are healthier, happier, live longer, are better able to deal with stress and are more at peace. In addition, friends keep us from being depressed, boost our self-esteem and our immune system, pick us up when we’re down and help us get through difficult times.

So, the more friends we have, the easier and better our life becomes. One group that truly understands this is the Girl Scouts. In fact, they have a song that their leaders teach these girls from early on. It goes like this, “Make new friends and keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold.” This is how we go about the business of building that large circle of friends—making new friends and hanging on to the old ones. The second verse of this song is also worth noting. “A circle is round; it has no end. That’s how long I want to be your friend.” True friendships aren’t fleeting, they’re long-term.

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