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The Power of Friendship
And the role it plays in aging.
I can always tell when my husband is texting with his main group of friends, (aka, The Core). is smirk and the mischief in his eyes give him away every time. They shamelessly partake in a level of silliness normally reserved for the enviable obliviousness of 10-year-olds.
Their level of creativity, wit, and friendship toward one another is legendary. And the best part? They met as adults, most within the last few years. To have friends like this at any age is such a gift-but to meet as fully formed, mature (relatively speaking) adults is unicorn-sighting rare. Why is that?
Before I took a dive into the deep end to find out, I thought it was important to first talk about friendship itself. In the many sources I consulted, there was a common set of characteristics that seem to define what a friendship really is; a bond of trust, affection, and support were the big winners. Those are banner headlines to place over someone’s name. THIS IS MY PERSON; they tell the world. AND I AM THEIRS. Like a middle-school crush without the awkward first kiss.
The importance of friendship has become a topic more frequently studied and discussed by sociologists worldwide as they are recognizing the value it has on aging itself. There are even emerging terms for older adults who don’t have a…
