10 Wonderful Ways To Be A Good Friend

15 Aug 2012 3 Comments

by Nikki in Caring Compassion, Healthy Habits Tags: , , ,

Friends are precious jewels that bless our lives!

During our lifetime, special friends share the journey with us, they are there for us through thick and thin, and sometimes are just taken for granted. Being a good friend helps to keep those special relationships alive and the following 10 tips will help ensure you do your share to keep your friendships alive and thriving.

I have been blessed with some amazing friends who have stood by me through thick and thin, others have gone by the way side for variety of reasons, but I treasure the ‘keepers’ and appreciate the value they bring to my life.

  • Have fun together………. when you do get to spend time with a friend, don’t dedicate the entire time to whinging and bitching about all that is wrong with your world. It is great to be able to share issues with someone, but if you do nothing but complain everytime you meet, those meetings might stop.
  • Make the time……… life does get very busy, but make the time to pick up the phone, send a text, write an email or letter or send a lovely card or book in a time for coffee, NOW!
  • Say sorry……… when you have done something wrong, be brave enough to face it and apologise. We all make mistakes or say something in the heat of the moment, but the best of us know when to admit it!
  • Be reliable……… don’t keep changing or backing out of plans you make with them unless it is totally unavoidable.
  • Offer a helping hand……… help with their kids, cook them a dinner, share your baking, given them flowers from your garden…….any little thing to brighten their day.
  • Don’t be jealous……… of their success or good fortune. Bless them instead, let the universe know you would like some of that too. Jealousy blocks you receiving good ‘stuff’.
  • Be a good listener and less of a talker…….. let them unload their troubles, they will feel better for it.
  • Accept things do change…….. you do need to be a bit adaptable, especially when partners and children come along, especially if the changes are not happening to you. Dynamics may change, but that does not mean you can’t still be friends.
  • Honesty is the best policy…..most of the time! When friends have strong opinions of things, that don’t necessarily agree with your values, you don’t always have to voice your thoughts. A quiet chuckle and nod of disagreement in silence can hold a friendship together.
  • Don’t forget important dates…….. birthdays, anniversaries, or the like are important for your friend, so make sure you remember them. A call, text or card, will let your friend know they are in your thoughts.

BUT sometimes friendships run the course and come to an end, and it is OK to let them go!

When it is all give and no take, when it is only about them, when they simply don’t make time for you, let them gently go without guilt or anger.

Have you had to give up a good friend?