It is hard to maintain friendships as our lives change. Some of us move away others get married and start families. We are all placed in different situations, forcing us to meet new people and build new friendships. No matter how far apart you may live from your friends you can still build a relationship that is strong and will last throughout your lifetime. Here are some tips to help:

• Communicate. Most friendships break down because you don't keep in touch with one another. With social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, it is next to impossible NOT to keep in touch with your friends. You need to be that person that initiates the conversation if you really want to maintain your friendships. Send them emails, letters, and get on instant messenger programs. This is a great way to keep in touch with one another and renew your friendship daily.
• Meet up. If you want to maintain friendships, spend time with your friends. Even though it may be only once a year, you need to make time to get together with your friends. Go out to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Maybe you can meet at a park with your kids and have a play date for them and for yourself. It is important to the friendship to make time for each other if you want to keep your friendship for many years to come. If possible try to plan a trip with your friends. Going away on a vacation together will strengthen your friendships and it will give you some new memories together.
• Listen. The basis of a strong friendship is sharing your thoughts and feelings with another person and knowing that they will listen to them and that they actually care about them. If you want your friends to listen to you, you need to spend time listening to them. Being a good listener is more than just nodding along; you need to repeat a couple things that they say. Follow up with some of the things they have talked about in the past, this is a great way to let them know how much you care.
• Be there. A good friend is there for you no matter what. Even if you make decisions that are not always the most popular, a good friend will let you know that they care about you and that you can come to them for anything. Be the friend that people can call at 3 am if they had a fight with their spouse. Be the friend that doesn't spread rumors or break the trust you have built. Be the friend that uplifts others and makes them realize what an amazing person they are. Be the friend that has the positive outlook on life and shares this emotion with everyone else.
• Be yourself. A good friend is true to who they really are. People will flock to you because you are yourself. Don't allow others to change you or mold you into a different person. By being yourself, you will remain consistent for your friends and they will love and respect you more for this.