You might be a self-proclaimed independent person who’s okay with being alone most of the time. But in the slivers of solo moments, somehow, deep inside, you wish to be with someone, even for a while.
I can remember way back when flights are still free of worry and care; I end up befriending most of my seatmates just because they shared with me their experiences of what it feels like to be an overseas Filipino worker. Some, because of their curiosity and interest in the e-book I always use during flights. They end up sharing how they (or their spouse) are very fond of reading like I do.
Thinking about our desire for company, I stumbled upon a paragraph from the book I’ve been reading.
Here it goes:
From Life is in the Transitions:
Humans, like all mammals, crave companionship. Gorillas travel in bands, hyenas in cackles, porcupines in prickles, hippopotamuses in bloats. We travel in families, teams, congregations, workplaces. Researchers have found that in times of crisis, people’s self-esteem tends to be maintained by those around them. The more friends you have, the healthier your age, though this effect is directly connected to how much you speak with your friends about your problems.
So yeah, friends aren’t just there for fun.
Real friends (who we also treat like family) stick around even when you’re not on your better days.
So that the more each of you relates with the other’s humanness, the more you feel closer and connected to each other.
Just as what we’re taught about back in children’s church, “A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps in time of trouble,” which is quoted from Proverbs 17:17.
jessa 