In many ways, life often has a way of throwing twists when one least expects it. Sometimes, one suffers a loss or blot that makes them feel lonely or devastated. New friendships can help during these seasons of hardship. Friendship goes beyond enjoying the jokes of the day. It’s also about carrying one another’s burden and helping them grow. New friends may appear in our lives when we least expect them and bring us the comfort that we may need.
Friendship as a Healing Tool
Challenges can often feel like carrying a burden on our backs. At some point, many of us may feel this is all we have after a breakup, losing our jobs, or some other form of disappointment. However, when you make yourself available for new friends, you realize they are the people who can help change the situation.
New friendships mean one can relate and converse with someone new, which is sometimes hard to achieve with the rest of the family or other longtime friends. A new friend has a different point of view and is an unbiased listener; sometimes it’s even the giggle we didn’t realize we needed. They walk with us, even quietly, through the small things and show us that we are not alone in the fight.
Unexpected Connections
The best part about new friends is that the relationship is always fluid, and you do not know where a friendship is headed. You can make a new friend anywhere, maybe in a coffee shop, at an event, or online. Where there is life, the simplest conversation may progress into a mutually meaningful relationship. Often depression breeds loneliness, and finding solace in the most unexpected person who understands us and our predicament can go a long way.
This is especially the case when you’re going through some rough times. A new friend might not know what you have been through, but they come with kindness and a new perspective. They bring a fresh start and a fresh perspective into your life. Friendship, in this case, provides a form of redemption that enables us to forge on, but not without remembering the lessons we learned from experience.
The Strength of Shared Vulnerability
Real friendship is only possible if both parties are willing to share their weaknesses. And new friends can make that possible. New friendships provide a perfect environment for that. New friends are different from the ones one has known for many years, in that the new friends bear no burden of past occurrences. You are not viewed as the person you once were, but as the person you are at this time.
This shared vulnerability is a healing process. American author and columnist Lois Wyse once said, “A good friend is a connection to life—a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” When you can speak and express your fears, dreams, and struggles with someone who doesn’t scold or ignore you. You establish a healthy climate for healing. Such serious, profound discussions help you build trust.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, friendship takes the pain of wounds we never knew we could feel and makes it disappear. They can make us feel hope, be happier, and lead more fulfilling lives. Whether it’s the strength in shared experiences, the unexpected joy of meeting someone new, or the comfort of being truly understood, new friendships help us move forward. So, whenever you face challenges in life, do not fail to explore new friendships and connections. They could simply be what the doctor ordered. After all, sometimes the best therapy is found in the unlikeliest friendships.
