Friendships: Now vs. Then

If we were to ask a fairly large population of adults, who would they choose - friends or family? It would be correct to assume that most people would answer with family. While the hierarchy between the two might as well be obvious, a variety of studies suggest that friendships are no less valuable in keeping people happier, and away from anxiety and depression.

If this is indeed the case, why do so many of us struggle to have real friends?

As kids, our friendships are solely focused on spending time with other kids who are fun to play with. There is little that stops us from running to a friend’s house to invite them to the park or for a game of ball. It quite literally is all fun and games, as play time with friends is non-negotiable.

There are many examples of people who enjoy lifelong friendships with their friends from childhood, whether they have grown to have similar worldviews and interests, or are simply fond of each other’s company, owing to the comfort and familiarity provided by their shared history. Unfortunately though, there are several people who grow up to experience a vacuum from not being able to find authentic human connection in the form of friendships.

Some of us move to different cities or entirely new parts of the world in our pursuits for better education and vocation, losing touch with our childhood pals. Early friendships also wither away as we grow up to become entirely different people with our own set of values, strong opinions and worldviews. Have you ever met an old friend and thought to yourself, wow has s/he changed? Now standing incompatible and in some cases, in opposition to belief systems held by our friends, our friendships take the backseat as life’s circumstances change. Then finally, there are some of us who form friendships “on paper” with fellow college-goers, colleagues, and neighbors; often finding ourselves among people who are good to shoot the breeze with, but with whom meaningful conversations are far and few. A growing number of us feel a sense of loneliness in a crowd, quietly pondering if real friendships are simply beyond us.

Being social beings, we never stop seeking meaningful connections, even if the majority of our time is taken up by work or is dedicated to family. Friendships are inherent to us, and as cited above, they are nothing short of an elixir for our mental health. And thus, an almost obvious question is left lingering in our minds - why should our circumstances rob us from having true, meaningful, value-adding friendships?

At Nile, this is the dream. As a platform which enables us to have meaningful dialogue with real people, Nile is being developed with the promise of mental and emotional wellness for all, providing a safe space for people and communities to grow at a pace not commanded by societal pressures.

We all deserve to have true friendships, exchange ideas and share our own aspirations. Discover Nile.