Whether you are the one who has left, or the one who has been left behind, your friendship will need care and attention to keep it in good health.

无论你是离开的那个人，还是被留下的那个人，你的友谊都需要被关心和照顾，才能保持健康。

A 2008 study found that long-lasting friendships share the characteristic of reciprocity,

一份来自2008年的研究发现：持久的友谊具有互惠的特点，

meaning that both sides equally contact and share with one another.

它意味着双方平等地联系和与对方分享。

Finding a time that works for both of you and sticking to it can alleviate（减轻） this pressure.

找到一个对双方都合适的时间联系彼此，并且坚持下去，可以减轻这种压力。

More isn't always merrier（愉快）

联系越多不一定会感到愉悦。

Instead of defaulting（默认） to catching up by phone calls or texts, make sure you have communicated with your friend about what method works best for you both.

要掌握好你和朋友之间沟通交流的合适方式，而不是一贯选择打电话或者发短信。

"Friends need to talk about their preferred methods of communication," says Dr Irene S Levine, a psychologist and friendship expert.

心理学家和友谊专家艾琳·S·莱文博士说：“朋友之间需要谈论他们偏爱的沟通方式。”

Levine also stresses（强调） the importance of talking about how frequently each friend wants to be contacted.

莱文还强调了朋友之间相互讨论彼此希望被联系的频率的重要性。

There are alternatives to constant written communication, such as leaving voice memos（备忘录） or having a group chat dedicated to funny photos and memes.

较之于持续的书面交流，还有其它方式可供选择，像留下语音备忘录或者建立群聊、使用有趣的图片和表情包。

You may be the friend who left or the one who was left behind; parties（当事人） in a long-distance friendship will have different hurdles（障碍） to overcome.

你可能是一段友谊中离开或留下的那个人，远距离的友情需要双方克服不同的困难。

"The friend who is remaining needs to be sensitive（理解） to all the additional time demands placed on the friend who has moved," says Levine;

“留下的那个人应该明白，搬走的朋友在异地会有额外的时间要求，”莱文说。

the one in the new context（环境） should be sympathetic（同情） to the fact that their friend may feel abandoned.

去了新环境中的人应该对这样一个事实感到同情——他们留下的那些朋友会有被抛弃的感觉。

Acknowledging the struggles（困难） each friend faces will lead to better communication and understanding.

认识到每个朋友所面临的困难会带来更好的沟通和理解。

"It's also helpful for both friends to offer each other assurance（保证） that the friendship is a keeper," says Levine.

莱文说：“两个朋友互相保证友谊是他们的守护神，这也会很有帮助。”

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