Unfortunately, many of us take friendship for granted. We know that as life changes, friendships change and because of our busy work life, spouses, children and physical distances, we let time dissipate a perfectly good relationship.

If you were to make a list of all your good friends, can you write the date you last communicated with each of them in any way? When did you last listen to their problems, their triumphs, or just listen to the sound of their voice? It's interesting isn't it, that we unknowingly place these very important relationships to the side in order to facilitate the needs of our coworkers, our children and our spouses?

Making and keeping friends is a valuable life skill. Children learn it from the earliest ages and yet as adults it is a forgotten art. Rarely do we think about how much work it takes to cultivate new friendships and face all the challenges that go along with building the relationships. If you were to ask the best way to make a friend, the list of rules would probably start with a few short answers:

Be yourself. Everyone brings special and unique qualities to friendships. This is the reason why you make friends to begin with. People will be drawn to you because of your personality and the unique friend that you are.

Be honest. A good friendship starts when you can trust one another. A friend is someone that would never lie to you. They are there to help you with your ups and downs and you can trust this person with your innermost secrets. Friendships are built on loyalty and trust and you can only get this by being honest with your friends.

Face your problems. When you are going through some hard times, learn to lean on your friends for support. If you and your friends have butted heads, work on repairing your relationship together. A friendship isn't one-way; you both have to feel respected and cared for. If you have a problem with one of your friends, be up-front about it and talk to them. Chances are, they feel the same way and they need to talk about it also. Be flexible with your wants in the friendship and learn to put this person before your own desires.

Be Approachable. In order to nurture your friendship, you need to be the kind of friend you would like to have. Make a conscious effort to smile and talk to those around you. Let your friends know that they can come to you with any of their problems and that you will be there for them. When you are approachable for your friends, it shows everyone that you are confident, happy and open to communication.
A good friend is a commitment; this is not something you can take for granted. How can you stay in touch with your friends if you don't make an effort? It can be frustrating and complicated at times, but as with any important piece of your life, well worth the effort. There is no greater feeling than having the support of a loving circle of people in your life that you can share your sorrow and your triumphs with and know that you will be there to return the favor.