The Value of Friendship

Friendship is both a source of pleasure and a component of good health. People who have close friends naturally enjoy their company. Of equal importance are the concrete emotional benefits they derive. When something sensational happens to you, sharing the happiness of the occasion with friends intensifies our joy. Conversely, in times of trouble and tension, when our spirits are low, unburdening our worries and fears to compassionate friends alleviates the stress. Moreover, we may even get some practical suggestions for solving a particular problem.

Throughout life, we rely on small groups of people for love, admiration, respect, moral support, and help. Almost everyone has a "network" of friends: co-workers, neighbors, and schoolmates. While both men and women have such friends, evidence is accumulating that indicates men rarely make close friends. Men are sociable and frequently have numerous business acquaintances, golf buddies, and so on. However, friendship does not merely involve a sharing of activities; it is a sharing of self on a very personal level. Customarily, men have shied away from close relationships in which they confide in others. By bottling up their emotions, men deprive themselves of a healthy outlet for their negative feelings.

Circumstances and people are constantly changing. Some friendship is an essential ingredient in the making of a healthful, rewarding life. (218 words)

友谊的价值

友谊既是快乐的源泉又是健康的要素。有好友的人们总是喜欢友人的陪伴。同样重要的是，人们能够从友谊那里获得实实在在的情感方面的益处。当有好事发生的时候，与朋友分享这份快乐会使你的快乐加倍。相反地，当我们身处麻烦和压力当中，情绪低落的时候，向饱含同情的朋友倾诉忧虑和恐惧会减轻你的压力。而且，我们甚至还可以从朋友那里获得实用的建议来解决特定的问题。

在一生当中，我们依赖周围亲近的人给予爱、赞赏、尊敬、精神支持和帮助。几乎每一个人都有一个朋友"网"：同事、邻居和同学。虽然不论男人还是女人都有这样的朋友，但越来越多的事实表明男人很少有亲密的朋友。男人们善于交际，经常有很多生意方面的熟人、高尔夫球友等等。然而，友谊并不仅仅意味着一起参加活动；它是非常个人化的对自我的分享。通常情况下，男人们在亲密的关系面前总是产生退缩，这种关系需要他们去信赖别人。由于封闭自己的感情，男人们失去了释放消极感情的健康渠道。

与人总是在不停地发生变化。对于创造健康、有益的生活来说，友谊是必不可少的因素。