4-20-21 HOW TO BUILD STRONGER FRIENDSHIPS is becoming more important to many persons at this time. In an age that persons often marry later in life,choose not to have children,choose to have only one or two children,choose not to marry,have high levels of divorce,and often live far from family members,friends become very important in our lives to help balance us mentally and emotionally. We choose them as they take the place of the traditional large family of parents,siblings and extended family. They also can be very important even with a large extended family with strained relations because we choose them. Behaviors to help build strong friendships would include the following: 1.Empathy. You try to emotionally walk in their shoes to better understand their lives and behaviors. 2. Heathy boundaries for each person so there is a level of fairness each receives. 3.Always be authentic to who you are as a person and give credence to your thoughts and feelings. 4.Honesty is essential in any relationship. 5.Caring and platonic love allow us to be there emotionally in the best and worst of times. 6.Celebrate events past and present that cement the friendship over the years. 7.Confidentiality when desired…A few quotes that say a lot about friendship are as follows: A FRIEND IS ANOTHER YOU-Cicero. THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE A FRIEND IS TO BE ONE-Ralph Waldo Emerson. A FRIEND MAY BE WAITING BEHIND A STRANGER’S FACE-Maya Angelou-MY BEST FRIEND WHO BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN ME-Henry Ford. A SWEET FRIENDSHIP REFRESHES THE SOUL-Proverbs 27:9. A GOOD FRIEND IS ONE WHO WALKS IN WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD WALKS OUT-Walter Winchell.