Friends and Peers

A good friend is hard to come by, and if you have reached the point  where you are questioning whether or not a friend is worth keeping around, than the answer is probably no. That is, unless there are some…
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The term codependency initially referred to the behavior patterns developed by family members affected by alcoholism. Today it has broadened to include individuals who are affected not only by addiction, but also by abuse, anger, and neglect. Codependency usually begins…
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“Love is friendship set to music.”  This quote was spoken by Joseph Campbell an American professor, writer, and orator. Friendship is indeed a prerequisite to love. No relationship can go the distance that isn’t built on a strong foundation of friendship that includes mutual respect,…
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As you go through your day, most people come across a lot of other people, and unfortunately, a lot of those people seem to be in the way of you getting what you want done. You see them as neighbors…
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Finding a best friend can be harder than finding food without Jillian Michaels’ face on the label.  Good friends are hard to find and sometimes they reveal themselves when you least expect it.  Life is full of false hopes and…
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Human beings have an ingrained desire to be liked by others. It raises our self-esteem, validates our positive beliefs about ourselves, and generally provides us with an overall sense of well-being. Therefore, it can be especially hurtful and confusing when…
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The only way one can discover if a friend is a ‘true’ friend is if that person stays with you through thick and thin. A true friend is always there, offering a shoulder to cry on. A true friend offers…
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Having roommates is always considered to be a double edged sword. Moving in with someone can turn strangers into friends, and friends into even better friends. But unfortunately, it can also turn friends into the worst of enemies, highlighting aspects…
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Friends talk, communicate and share many different facts, emotions and stories. In fact, communication is an essential part of the friendship dynamic. What happens, though, when you have a friend that just talks too much? Excessive talking shuts out the…
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Your new friends are a pleasure to be around, but lately you find yourself thinking about your old dear friend you went to college with long ago. You remember all of the good times you shared with that friend and…
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Why are people ‘colour-blind’ when they are not ‘gender-blind’? Many people are usually keen to boast how ‘colour-blind’ they are in interracial friendships. But if race and gender are the two key aspects which make up our identity, why are…
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Friends are people who are not usually relatives or lovers, they feel mutual affection and regard for each other. Today we value friends much more than our own flesh and blood. We start to make friends at a very early…
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We are all adults here. Those of us who aren’t will someday be adults. And as adults, we are responsible for our own actions. With this in mind, I have to wonder, what is the wrong kind of friend? Is…
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Yes, men and women can be “just friends.” Those who think it is not possible don’t trust themselves or have never had a close friend of the opposite sex. Many childhood friends grow up simply being friends throughout adulthood. Boys…
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Mutual respect is the glue that holds any relationship together. Whether it is a marriage or business partnership, without respect, the walls of your relationship will crumble. It is easy to fall in love. The hard part comes after the…
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If you’re like many people, you’ve lived through a terrible breakup. The pain was unbearable at first; your appetite disappeared; you tossed and turned each night, trying to sort through the confusing questions and emotions. No matter how you slice…
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Some of the most important people in our lives are our friends. Because our friends are people that we care about, we want to see them happy and healthy. One of the areas of their lives that we probably want…
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Low self-esteem, even though it seems over-used today, can damage your relationships, your relationship with yourself and your relationships with others. Recognizing how our low self-esteem permeates our relationships and, in turn, causes even lower self-esteem can help us begin…
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When trying to end a relationship peacefully, the most important thing is to remain non-confrontational.  Although you may feel like unburdening yourself by spewing all the reasons you wish to discontinue the friendship, it is far more beneficial to all…
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A lot of people try to be poetic about friendship, I will tell you what friendship is, friendship is being a friend to someone when it is not convenient, when everyone else is not their friend, when their chips are gone…
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Many of the setbacks in our otherwise consistent life are due to associating with the wrong people. Why are individuals sometimes drawn to friends that are so wrong for them? What happens when you go grocery shopping when you are…
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How to Make Friends As each school year begins, children may wonder what the school year will bring as far as friends, teachers, grades and such. Many feel anxious over classroom assignments or worry about establishing friendships; they look towards…
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Friends are your support system. They walk side by side with family and sometimes take over when there is none. So can things go wrong in genuine friendships too? Can something as close to your heart die? Do real friendships…
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If you have enough friends supposedly, are you interested in learning how to determine whether or not they are your friends? There are various types of friends and various ways to gauge the strength of a friendship. In my opinion,…
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Characteristics of a good person are not always a smile and a wave. Those are two actions that are easily forced in social situations, and therefore can not be the basis of a good person. Of course, this is not…
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More often than not, we come to the painful realization that our relationships, especially our friendships, are not the way they should be. Instead of finding fulfilment and joy in our relationships we constantly struggle to get along, wrapping our…
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I didn’t really know what to expect when Ben asked me if I wanted to hang out after school. I especially didn’t expect to spend the afternoon sitting in the school parking lot with Ben and his friends as they…
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A rude response to unsolicited advice from a friend is a curt,”Mind your own business.” Most of the time this response is callous and selfish. Have you considered a friend may have genuine concern for you? Or is your ego…
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It would be nice to think that a best friend can always be trusted and in great friendships, they can. However, it is easy to forget that just about everybody was or is somebody’s best friend. In other words, anybody…
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Being around friends that always seem to have a negative attitude can often be contagious, and when their attitude affects yours as well, it can diminish productivity. Consequently, learning how to recognize the types of friends that bring you down…
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