Page 10 - Seniorstoday July-2023 Issue
P. 10
Life Lessons
The unbreakable bond
between soulmates
A soulmate is an individual who has a lasting impact on your life, a fellow traveler
to the end—you need one another to grow beyond the limitations of your individual
selves, writes Vickram Sethi
Is there anything better than laughing caring, support, a listening ear, advice and
and spending time with friends? To enjoy assistance, plus they can encourage us to
the benefits of friendship, of course, it have fun, to do new things and learn. These
helps to know how to be a good friend in things reduce stress and increase our ability
return. Reaching out regularly, listening to cope up when troubles do arise. Older
non-judgmentally, being supportive and people with meaningful friendships are
spending time together can help you more likely to live longer and are at lower
maintain healthy friendships new and old. risk for long-term health problems such
Friends keep us active, make us feel heard as obesity, high-blood pressure and heart
and supported and provide companionship. disease.
Social support, reduced stress, better health We can have a variety of friends who
and self-esteem are just a few reasons why are all so different in character, who come
friendships are important for seniors. Being from different strata of society yet one gets
friends with people who lose weight or along with them all. These friends are like
health conscious, rubs off on each other. pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed,
Having friends who take care of their health they are you. These are the friends who
can motivate us to make similar choices. understand you better than you understand
One study found that in India, children yourself. The warmth of friendship stops
and family can be a number one source stress even in the most intense moment.
of tension for seniors. Friends can offer For seniors, it is important to have one
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