International day celebrates strong bond of friendship

AMMAN — The International Day of Friendship, celebrated annually on July 30, sheds light on the importance of friends for a person’s happiness

“Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability,” the UN website said.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Friendship in 2011 with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities, according to the UN website.

“I always turn to my best friend. She is a caring and loyal person whom I love so much,” said Sara Saad, a university student.

An international day that celebrates friendship shows the importance friends have on many aspects of people’s lives and how a true friend nourishes better health, Saad added.

“A friend is the person that turns one’s stress into laughter, the one that is always present and supportive,” according to Saad.

The Jordan Times contacted a number of Jordanian mothers to ask about the effect of friendship on their kids. Most mothers said that having quality friendships from a young age can help children develop stronger social skills.

Mai Sameer, one of the mothers said that people need positive friendships at all ages. She pointed out that “the quality, not quantity of friends is important”.

Fostering a culture of peace through education, ensuring equality between women and men, supporting participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge all help to promote a culture of peace, the UN website said.

An almost 80-year-old Harvard study on human happiness has proved that “embracing community helps us live longer and be happier”, according to The Harvard Gazette.

“The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health,” said Robert Waldinger, the director of the study.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development, which is one of the world’s longest studies on adult life, also revealed that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives.