The most valuable thing a person can have is a true, lifelong friend. Following the Golden Rule is the most effective way to maintain friendships: treat them the way you want to be treated. It Takes Effort Very often, good friendships just happen when people make a connection, not unlike true romance, but with a different dynamic. But if both sides don’t make an equal effort to maintain the relationship, it can wither and die. It’s not supposed to be easy or convenient to be a great friend, but the payoff makes it well worth the effort. Little things, such as remembering birthdays, sharing in their victories, and commiserating over disappointments, are the glue that holds a friendship together. Listen We all love to tell our stories, but it can be difficult to be the one who doesn’t have a chance to tell theirs because you’re always talking, making it …