The International Day of Friendshipis a United Nations (UN) Day that promotes the role that friendship plays in promoting Peace. It is celebrated on 30 July.
Why Friendships are Important to Us?
Historically, we needed communities to survive, to protect ourselves in the wilderness, and to feel safe. As a species, we are social beings; we need to have the sense of belonging; we learn, we grow and we thrive within communities and in relationships with other people. Contrary to a common belief, we are wired to cooperate, to be kind and to help each other. Science tells us that it is in our DNA. It is important for our well-being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
On an individual level, researchers have found that the relationships we have affect our happiness, our health and the quality of our life. That happy people have more friends and social connections. And that the more connections we have, the happier we are. A growing body of evidence shows that people who have good friendships and strong social support groups are healthier and happier, and that they are less likely to become ill and more likely to recover faster if they do suffer from an illness. In addition to that, people with more social contacts are less likely to suffer from a cognitive decline.
On the other hand, researchers have found that people with few or no friendships are more likely to feel depressed; and may have a heart attack and die sooner as a result.
The evidence is clear:our life is much better when we have friends!
Why are Friends so Good for Us?
Health-wise, friends encourage us to do what is good for us: eat better, exercise, and take care of ourselves. Good friends listen to us, love us, care about us; and cheer us up when we are down. We stress less when we have friends who support us and help us along the way.
How does Friendship help promote World Peace?
On a global level, the state of the world is a reflection of our relationships with each other: the governments, the politics, and the conflicts we have in the world are the results of how we treat one another on daily basis.
Be The Change!
We all want to change the world, and especially other people. We tend to forget that the only person we can control, and therefore change, is our self, and our behavior towards other people; and that is all we need to do to change the world.
Furthermore, the relationships we have with other people, and our behaviour, is a reflection of ourselves; the state of our mind; our inner state of being.
Do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are!
What You Do Matters!
Everything you do, no matter how small, makes a difference. So you must take full responsibility for your own life; for the thoughts you think; for your emotions; for the words you speak and use daily; and for your actions.
Even though we can’t change other people, however, we can influence them by our acts of kindness: a smile, a kind word, an act of generosity. When you do acts of kindness, you uplift people’s Spirit, and it is guaranteed that it will make you Happier.
Be Kind Whenever it is possible!
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”– Aesop
How You Make a Difference!
When you raise your own Consciousness, you raise the Consciousness of the Entire World (and possibly the Entire Universe). When enough people do that, when we reach the tipping point, the 1% of the population, we will bring about World Peace!
Remember: what you focus on, you give it your energy, and so it expands and grows and therefore affects the entire world.
Why You Need to Understand!
When you understand the role that you play as an individual in the state of the world we live in; and I hope that you do; it is more likely that you care enough to do your part to help, so that we can all together save the world and live in Peace.
Be Grateful for Your Friends!
Go ahead; appreciate, cherish, and celebrate your friends, and all the people in your life, on this UN Friendship Day, and all throughout the year. Reach out to your old friends; make new friends; join groups of like-minded people; volunteer; help those in need; and be kind to everyone you meet!
Remember: to have a good friend, you must be a good friend.
My Wish for You:
“May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!”
– An Old Irish Blessing
Happy Friendship Day!
Zafira Labadi
Happiness & Wellness Coach
The photos in this article are by Mr. Friedrich Grohe, and used by permission. To see and purchase any of his beautiful photos, please go to his website: http://www.fgrohephotos.com
Zafira Labadi
Happiness & Wellness Coach;
EFT Practitioner;
Reiki Master;
Facilitator for
The Happiness Book Club;
The Happiness Club and
The Feel-Good Movie Club;
Coordinator for Servas Jordan
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