Friendship has changed drastically in modern times. No more is it about having people physically present around you to qualify as friends. In fact, people who you have never met could have a lasting friendship with you. The Internet, and more recently the Web 2.0 phenomenon, has drastically changed how the world perceives friendship.
Friendship is just a small part of being social; it is just one aspect. But in the 21st Century, the implication of friendship has become much wider. It has definitely become much easier to make friends today. You can expand your own network, you can make your friend’s friends your friends, you can even find out people who are interested in you so very directly.
Anyone can make friends, but retaining them is a challenge. A true friend is one who will be with you beyond the barriers of time, irrespective of what phase of life you are in. Though they might not be physically present with you anymore, they will surely keep in touch.
You have to aim for a friendship that goes beyond just meeting and spending time together just because you have to. It extends to thinking about the other person with concern, knowing about the other part of their family in which you are not present, knowing what makes them happy or sad, what their personal likes and dislikes are, being happy in their happiness, etc. This is what you have to look forward to. Friendship is a sublime thing, but developing it till it reaches that stage requires continuous effort.
