“30 Days to a More Optimistic You” Positivity Challenge – Day 22. Thankful for Friends Near and Far

There’s nothing quite like a good friend to bring a smile to your face and lighten your heart.

Today we’re talking about the ways that friends enrich our lives and bring us joy.

Friends are different from family because we actively choose to make them a part of our lives.

Today, spend some time reflecting on your relationships with friends.

How often do you make time to be with friends?

Are most of your friends on social media? Or do you also nurture friendships in the flesh and face to face?

For many of us, Facebook is owed to the ease in which we can reconnect with friends from our past.

It’s absurdly simple to just log on to Facebook, locate an old friend from high school or even grammar school, and get back in touch.

We should be aware though, that even though social media friendships are easy, a healthy relationship with a friend will require extra tending if you value that closeness and connection that friendships from our younger years once embodied.

If you love your friends, then don’t skim the surface and think that sharing photos and giving thumbs-up is enough.

Make time to visit with friends in person. Sit down and talk about things that matter. Tell stories and share laughs. Remember that quality, not quantity, is the secret to feeling fulfilled in your friendships.

Exercise: Show Gratitude for Your Friends

How can you show a good friend that you appreciate him or her?

Set aside time to be with them. Meet for a meal or a chat over coffee. Get together and dish some harmless gossip. Find out what they’re up to, what’s been bothering them, what trips they’ve taken or great meals they’ve enjoyed.

Send a handwritten letter. Are pen pals a relic of yesteryear? They don’t have to be. Instead of hastily typing a quick Facebook message, give yourself the pleasure of sitting down with a good pen and a few sheets of nice stationery, to write a letter to a friend.

Pick up the phone and call them. Sure, they probably won’t pick up. But just hearing the sound of your voice, expressing the wish to hear from them soon, might be enough to make their day a bit brighter and righter. And they’ll probably call you back to hear that sweet sound of a dear friend’s voice – yours!

Make birthdays special. You don’t have to go all out, but a good friend who shows up with a cake, a bottle of wine and some good stories and laughs goes a long way to make a birthday meaningful and fun.

Journal It.

Write about a friend with whom you lost touch. What happened to cool the relationship? What do you miss about your friend? What stops you from reaching out to them?

In penning memories of dear old friends, you might just feel inspired to pick up the phone and say “Hey… I miss you! Let’s get together.”

To improving your friendships

Fran Watson