How to Keep Your Friendships

       No two friendships are ever exactly alike. But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friendships, you must keep three words in mind: honesty, generosity（慷慨）and understanding.

       Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust the other. If you don’t tell the truth, people will usually find it out. If a friend finds out that you haven’t been honest, you may lose your friend’s trust. Good friends always trust the other and act honestly.

       Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You don’t have to give your friend money or your clothes, of course. Instead, you have to learn how to share things you enjoy, such as your hobbies and interests. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them you help your friend know you better.

       Sooner or later everyone needs understanding and help with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve. Turning to a friend can be the first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend, you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend’s place so you can understand the problem better.