She's your best friend. She's the one you call in emergencies or when you just want to talk about nothing and she's always there. But lately you've both been so busy. When you really think about, perhaps it's been months since you've last been in touch.
It happens all the time. Even the closest friendship can fade into the background when you've got so much going on. You might feel guilty for letting the relationship lapse, but you can lose out on a lot when you don't keep your friends close.
The power of pals
Morton J. Mendelson, a professor in McGill University's psychology department, says there are a lot of benefits to keeping up with your pals. Friendships bring elements of stability, intimacy, emotional security, positive feelings and self-validation, according to a study conducted by Mendelson on the value of friendship.
When you lose contact with a close friend, says Mendelson, you lose the corresponding benefits. To make sure you don't miss out on the joys of good buddies, take note of some of Mendelson's recommendations for keeping friendships strong.
Meet new friends from across the country in our online forums!




Comment reported
Thank you for reporting this comment as inappropriate.
Back to Comments »