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Friends for A Lifetime
by John Freudingern
http://www.amplefriends.com
Our friends are those people whom we turn to in times of
greatest joys and sorrows. We choose our friends because
of the unique gifts they bring to our lives, and they
choose us as friends for our own unique gifts. We meet
many people over our lifetimes, and those that impact us
the most remain our friends.
Keeping friendships alive requires spending quality time
with your friends. Celebrations and catastrophes shouldn't
be the only times that you have contact with close
friends. Call or visit "just because." Share all of your
news with them, good and bad, and ask them to do the same
with you. Make your friendships comfortable for both you
and your friends.
Stay in touch on a regular basis. Call and say hello on
a regular basis--weekly, monthly, or somewhere in-between.
A quick message will let your friends know that you care
and that you~re there.
How many ways can you think of to stay in touch with
friends? Try telephoning, e mailing, letter writing,
faxing, telegraphing, or sending cards. Be clever, be
unique, and make it easy on yourself to be considerate!
Extend your creative expressions of friendship to gift-
giving. On special occasions, send you friends something
special like a floral bouquet, a decorated ice cream cake,
or a basket of potpourri. Thoughtful gifts needn't be
elaborate or expensive.
If friends share behaviors of yours that they find
offensive, except those observations as constructive
criticisms intended to eliminate the offense. Such
remarks are well-intended more often than not, and
come from those who are in the best position to see
and accept you for whom you truly are.
If a friend does something to offend you, say so in as
kind a manner as you can. Don't hold on to offenses;
resolve them and move on. Never withhold your forgiveness
when it is sought by one of your friends. Always behave
toward your friends in ways that strengthen the friendship
rather than weaken it.
Nurturing great friendships provides you and your friends
with benefits that can't be quantified, but are tangible
nonetheless!
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