Friendship is the golden thread that ties all hearts together.
- Unknown |
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| Greetings!
Reconnecting with someone after a long period of silence can be really, really tough to do. Most often the lapse of communication is solely from being busy with life, but the more time passes, guilt then creeps in, busy life continues and it becomes even more difficult to reconnect.
One of the things WhatFriendsDo.com promotes is how to get back in touch and how to stay in touch - regardless of the circumstances. |
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Here are some ways to 'break the silence'
Special Delivery!
Send flowers, and follow it up with a letter. Start with an apology for having fallen out of touch and letting your friend (and friendship) get away for so long. Include all the wonderful aspects of the friendship you've missed while you were caught up in other things. Sure, admit how guilty you feel. Tell your friend how much better it would make you feel if you could treat your friend to lunch, dinner or some other togetherness-starter, to begin the friendship again. After a few days, pick up the phone.
Just be bold and pick up the phone or write a letter to say I think of you and you are important to me for these reasons... Let your friend know how he or she has impacted your life and shaped your world. Have you ever wanted to thank your second-grade teacher, not only for teaching you the basics, but also for broadening your view of the world and putting up with your less than perfect days? And who hasn't lost touch with their second-grade teacher?
Spring Cleaning
Lots of us have sentimental tokens from way-back-when. A friend recently received a small stained-glass sun-catcher in the mail from a college roommate she hadn't heard from in several years. The roommate said she was purging the household clutter and had found the sun-catcher tucked away in a drawer. So many years ago when all the roommates went their separate ways, she "won" the sun-catcher, and she thought it was now time to pass it back. The two friends then went on to get reconnected in the present and promised to call.
Do more than "accept"
When you get a Facebook invitation from someone you've been out of touch with for a long time, don't just 'accept' the invitation, smile and move on. Reach out with a personal message (not a wall post!). Maybe include a photo of the two of you from long ago and a message about the smile you had when you received their 'invitation.' This may be the new beginning of something wonderful..click here to read the whole story!
What Friends Do!
Each and every day there are suggestions for getting and staying in touch on WhatFriendsDo.com. Here are just a few of the upcoming ways to say "hello" again:
January 23 - National Pie Day
January 26 - Seed Swap Day
January 27 - Chocolate Cake Day
February 1 - Carwash Day
Click here to for more details about these days and others! |
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A Missed Opportunity
A long time ago, Laura was my best friend. Things changed. We grew up at different rates; we were living further apart and didn't have so much in common anymore. After a shift back to the area, I tracked her down and we went out to dinner one night. We talked about old times a bit, but mostly caught up on the present, laughed about the changes in both our lives, the "who would have thought" stuff, and just enjoyed each other's company. We had a great time. We said, "Let's get together more often." I ran into her mother a few times and asked how Laura was doing. She gave me her phone number and said Laura would love to hear from me. But I was "so busy." I figured we had all the time in the world. Just months after one of those failures to follow through, I got a call from Dad saying it appeared that my good friend Laura's obituary was in the paper. Laura died from complications of her first pregnancy.
I have learned one thing from this -- have no shame and live with no regrets. Don't miss your opportunities. Embarrass yourself as regularly as necessary to let people know they are valued and why. Several times since then I have had the chance to reconnect with people who have helped shape my world and who will always meant a lot to me even if I never see them. Remembering my missed opportunities makes it easier to figure out some way to get past the guilt and send the message
--Amy, Richmond IN |
Whatever those bonds and commonalities may have been, start there. Getting your friendship back on track will be a gift to your friend, and a gift to you! | |
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We might not be able to change the outcome of your situation, but we hope to help change the journey!
WhatFriendsDo.com Staff
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