Annie's Choice

 

Bethany Mandel of the Deseret News recently wrote “The New York Times published a piece on curating friendships in a post-pandemic world. One particular section was redacted several days later. The paragraph read: ‘Depressed friends make it more likely you’ll be depressed, obese friends make it more likely you’ll be obese, and friends that smoke and drink make it more likely you’ll do the same. The reverse is also true: You’ll be more studious, kind, and enterprising if you consort with studious, kind and enterprising people.’ These statements, although blunt and perhaps callous, are backed up by research.” I feel the paragraph in question may have been removed out of fear that it would cause people to abandon friends in crisis. But I wonder if knowing this truth shouldn’t inspire us to BE better friends; to radiate positivity, industry and kindness, not only because it improves our own outlook, but also because it can benefit everyone around us.