Everyone needs friends．They are a basic source of happiness and hope in our lives． However, the ability to make friends varies¹ from person to person．To some people, making friends is easy, and to others it’s very difficult．

    We all have the ability to make friends．Unfortunately, many people never reach their potential (潜能)．Making friends is a skill, and the first step in developing that skill is knowing how to get along with others．

    People who are good at getting along with others take an interest in what other people like．They learn to develop interest that make them enjoyable to be around．Therefore, the more things that your child knows how to do that involve (涉及) connecting with other kids, the more chances he or she has to make friends．

    If your child has trouble making friends, you can tell him or her how to do it．

    ★Realize your own strengths．You have skills and talents that others can enjoy．Some people don’t let others see their goodness²．

    ★Believe that you are a good person who has something to share with others．

    ★Develop a sense of humor³．Learn to laugh at yourself and your shortcomings．It will relieve⁴ (释放) some of the stress in your life．If you ever feel poking⁵ fun at someone, let it be you, never anyone else．Smile, smile, smile．

    ★Respect the rights of others．They have their opinions, you have yours．Different opinions are healthy．Learn how to listen to others without putting them down or trying to persuade them that your opinion is right．

    ★Be kind．Throughout your life, you will learn that if you are kind to others, they will usually be kind to you．When should you start being kind﹖ Right now．Give someone a compliment⁶ (恭维)．Open the door for someone．Wave to a friend． Encourage someone who is discouraged．Say something positive (积极的)．There are hundreds of little things you can do to show kindness．

    ★Be sympathetic⁷ (同情的)．Try to understand what others are going through．Look at life through their eyes．If you emphasize⁸ (强调) with someone’s feelings, you can help．

    ★Don’t complain (抱怨)．People get tired of listening to constant complaining．Life doesn’t always go the way you want． Learn to accept what you can’t change, and work hard to change what you can． Replace the time you used to spend complaining with time spent being kind．

    ★Never give up．Even if you are faced with negative, closed-minded people, never give up．Don't let them change you into one of them． Find people who will appreciate (欣赏) you．

    TRUE or FALSE:

    1．The ability of making friends differs according to the education one receives．

    2．The most important thing in making friends is to be able to get along with others．

    3．Sometimes you can accept what you don’t know in making friends．

    4．Friendship can enrich⁹ our life, so it is of great value．

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