The Japanese have a term, kenzoku, which translated literally means "family." The connotation suggests a bond between people who've made a similar commitment and who possibly therefore share a similar ...

Friendship comes in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes a friend is like a favorite pair of old sneakers; the fit is right and so is the comfort. Others may be friends in the making — the relationship is ...

Dear Annie: From time to time, I read letters from people feeling blue because their friends never call to initiate social time together or just chat. I understand how this can be hurtful or ...

You don't have to live in the same town or — or even the same country — as your best friend to maintain a strong friendship. Even so, it can be challenging to live far away from your favorite people.

Friendship is a critical pillar of a healthy life, offering emotional support, a sounding board for ideas, and a sense of belonging. While a man might have acquaintances or colleagues, the absence of ...

You have to live a long time to see the full curve of friendship. A while ago, we used to have a thing called a Rolodex or an address book. Remember those? You had a compendium of addresses and phone ...

“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” This quote is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who wrote extensively about the notion and importance of true friendship ...

Friendship is often described as one of life’s greatest buffers against stress and loneliness. But when the balance tips and you find yourself giving far more than you receive, the relationship can ...

Friends, like partners, co-workers, and pretty much every other relationship, come and go. It's just part of the natural rhythms of life. Things wax and wane, and sometimes that changes the ...

Michael Meyer is a professor emeritus of philosophy at Santa Clara University and a faculty scholar with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Views are his own. For social creatures like us, ...