But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restored and sorrows end.

–William Shakespeare

We spend a major part of our day, and thereby a major part of our life, with friends.  So, friends are indeed an important determinant of our future and success. The way our friends are, we become the same.

So think carefully about who you are going to be friends with. Your friends have a major role in shaping your life. With or without your consent, they will influence the way you think, you behave, and even your interpretation of what’s right and wrong. It’s too difficult to stay a bad person and a good friend of a very good person at the same time. So, think well before you select your friends. You can talk and laugh with anyone, but friends are different. You share with them something which you may not have told even your spouse. If your friend is not good, he can take undue advantage of that privilege and stab you when you least expect it. If your friend is a gambler, you will automatically be a gambler. If your friend is an addict, you will have a hard time defending yourself from not falling into the same trap. If your friend is a man of morality, you will also be the same. If your friend goes to the gym every day, you will likely start exercising too. Your friends and the circle you surround yourself with really do determine your life.

Friends help you develop good habits. This is especially important during one’s formative years. I had some friends in school who previously were very good, moral and disciplined. They got to a boarding school and became friends with some bad guys and their life took a very bad turn. So, if you are in your school years, be very careful about building friendships. One of the easiest paths to success is actually to befriend a successful person. In later years, such as in university days…….