The concept of friendship is changing fast with time. In this millennium, when people hardly have time to breathe, have sparse time for themselves and their families, is the ‘ship’ called ‘Friendship’ sinking? Many would agree to the above question, yet some would say ‘NO’.

In these modern times of technology, we can still remain in contact with our friends who are miles away in far off lands. With Yahoo, Google and their online chats and social networks like Facebook and Orkut, with the click of a button we can see and communicate with them, argues many. For the youths of today, laptops, desktops and internet connections are indispensable part of their lives to retain their friendship. Thus, for them, only the definition of friendship has changed.

How was Friendship defined years back when there weren’t any of these modern technologies? To know it, ask this question to those above 70 plus years of age. They can easily explain to you the importance of friendship. For them, making friends is a simple, quick process. According to them, Friendship doesn’t come with a manual; they don’t need to be taught how to make friends.

If you enjoy each other’s company, then it is done; they are friends for the rest of their lives. Theirs would be a fast, thick and long lasting relationship. They greet each other on seeing; enjoy their evening walks together; perhaps once in a while have a lunch or dinner together and ask each other’s family matters. They don’t see it a ‘taboo’ to poke their nose into each other’s personal matters, to discuss their family problems and share their joys too! For them, Friends are the ones to lift you up when you are down. They, thus value Friendship more than their families.

Now ask them about the modern day’s Friendship; they would say that its meaning has changed now. Friendship has now become rather complicated and formal. It is difficult to make fast friends because one has to be careful in choosing one’s friends. Most of the kids now must be taught how to make good friends. See, you need a manual these days! Moreover, it does not last for a life time. Friendship just dissolves in the complexities of modern lives. All are busy; there is hardly any time or space for others but themselves alone.

They might have plenty of colleagues in their office but not all are their friends. You cannot share your joys, personal problems and family matters with them. Their bonding is hardly Friendship but rather more ‘colleagueship’. You cannot lean on their shoulders at the time of hardships. Some of them cannot be even trusted; some might turn out to be your traitors at your work place, hindering your promotion. Thus most youngsters today would prefer their family first than friends.

You get a mixed opinion about Friendship if you ask today’s youngsters. For some, they are integral part of their lives, more important than their marriage; for some it is a necessity; for some it is an obligation; yet for others, the most exciting feature of friendship is that they can drop their old friends and easily find new ones, as they cannot choose their family. For a majority of them, friendship is the same as buying a house; you buy a house which you can only afford and the one which is for sale; and so is friendship – you can choose your friends only from the people you have met!

Research studies have shown that men have, on the average, fewer close friends than women do and that middle-class men have more friends than working-class men. Also, men and women find their friendships with women more emotionally satisfying than with men. During our lifetime, we might make almost 400 friends, but we will keep in touch with fewer than 10% of them. Out of the 10 friends we may currently claim to have, only 2 may be our real ‘close’ ones.

Studies reveal that older people with large circle of friends were 22% less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. Friends, thus are meant to bring happiness in your life and to share your sorrows. You are less susceptible to diseases like cold when you good friends, because you are happy and thus healthy. Also, strong social ties promotes brain health. Another shocking research study reports that you have an increase of nearly 60% in the risk for obesity if your friends gained weight. Your friends can influence your dietary habits. Does that mean if you want to be slimmer, next time choose a slim friend?