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Chimpanzees do it.

Even mice do it.

I do it.

Do you do it?

Do you put your friendships on a silver platter?  Are your relationships based on mutual admiration and support?  According to today’s New York Times, a posse of friends is not only fun but essential to our defense system.  A friend can calm and lower our stress.  But only if we’re physically together.

We all have excuses for not spending time with the people we love.  We’ve made “I’m busy” into a sweeping statement of our self-importance.  We’ve sabotaged our own well-being by not keeping in touch.  Female elephants send out low-pitched vocalizations that research scientists compare to texting, “Where are you?”  So, where are you?

Let’s not forget the feel good factor.  When you’re with someone you love, you can un-spool the onion. You can remove the layers you’ve built to protect yourself and let it all hang out (70s lingo…please forgive).  You can dish, conspire, comfort, complain, and you can hold someone’s hand when that’s all they need.

Back in 1928, composer Cole Porter’s “Let’s Do It” says it all:

“And that’s why birds do it, bees do it, Even educated fleas do it.  Let’s do it.  Let’s fall in love.” (With friendship).