Best friends, even when they are not a part of our day-to-day lives, are essential to our well-being. They supply the companionship , help, security, and love that we all need. It is not easy to put into words excatly what a best frined is, because the matter is so personal. From time to time, however, we may think about our best friends -- who they are, what characteristics they share, and why they are so important to us-- in order to gain a better understanding of ourselves and our relationships.
I recently asked several perople for their opinions on the subject, beginning with the qualities they valued in their own best frineds. They all agreed on three traits : reciprocity, honesty, and love. Reciprocity means that one can always rely on a best friend in times of need. A fovor doesn't necessarily have to be returned; but best friends will return it anyway, because they want to. Best friends are willing to help each other for the sake of helping and not just for personal gain. One woman said that life seemed more secure because she knew her best friend was there if she ever needed help.
Honesty in a best friendship is the sharing of feelins openly and without reserve. The people I interviewed said they could rely on their best friends as confidants: They could share problems with their best friends and ask for advice. They also felt that, even if best friends were critical of each other, they would not be hurtful or spiteful.
Love is probably the most important quality of a best friend relationship, according to the people I interviewed. They very much prized the affection and enjoyment they felt in the company of their best friends. One man described it as a "gut reaction". and all said it was a different feeling from being with other friends. Private jokes, looks, and gestures create personal communication between best friends that is at a very high level -- many times one person knows what the otehr is thinking without anything being said. The specifics differ, but almost everyone I talked to agreed that a special feeling exists,which is best described as love.
Coming up when I have the time type it all out: Who can be a best friend.
文章定位：
