Career News 24/7: The Cynical Girl: F@$k It Friday: It’s tough to be a good friend.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Cynical Girl: F@$k It Friday: It’s tough to be a good friend.

F@$k It Friday: It’s tough to be a good friend.

Posted: 06 Sep 2013 03:45 AM PDT

Morrissey-001 I just read an article called, “Loneliness is Deadly: Social isolation kills more people than obesity does—and it's just as stigmatized.”

I am lucky to have several dear friends in my life. It is tough to be a good friend, though. Social media makes it worse, I think. I have been working harder to be a better friend to the awesome men and women in my life.

Here are some of the things I have learned.

Ask how your friend is doing. Listen to the first answer. Then ask again. The second answer is the truth.
Even if you hate talking on the phone, talk on the phone.
Everyone likes nice birthday gifts but most people prefer regular lunch dates.
Normal conversation should be a 50/50 mix. Stop talking so much.
Don’t build a friendship around trauma, pain or spite. If that’s how it started, work hard to help it evolve.
Time is a currency. Be on time.
Don’t ask your friends to cut you some slack. Ask your friends to help you figure out why you need slack.
Pay attention to body language and tone. Half the story is in the delivery.
People can’t multitask. Don’t text and talk.
Everyone loves mail. Send a note, send a postcard or send a book.

So many people clamor for meaning and connection in this world. I think — if you have it, don’t blow it.

What am I missing?