Simple Kindness: #7

TREAT FARAWAY FRIENDS AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO TREAT YOU

Few things are sadder than saying goodbye to a good friend, particularly if we've known each other for years, lived together as roommates, or raised children together. After all of the time spent talking, sharing, and counting upon each other, the day-to-day closeness ends, and there's no real comfort for the loss. While the friendship may continue long-distance, its nature will inevitably change. Still, strong friendships have a solid foundation of respect, affection, shared history, and common beliefs. With our faraway friends, we can build a new kind of relationship based upon that foundation, or we can simply find comfort and support in what we had.


* REMINDERS *

* Be realistic about the effects of separation, don't put pressure on yourself or your friend to maintain the relationship as it was.

* To keep your friendship active, communicate often enough to feel a part of each other's lives, use the phone if that's what you're both used to.

* Try to be present for each other's major life events.

* If your friend stops communicating, don't assume he or she has lost interest. Your friend may just lack the energy or discipline to remain in contact.

* If you lose touch, don't let guilt or embarrassment keep you from calling, even years later. Your friend will welcome the call, just as you would.

* Whether or not you communicate with each other, be grateful that the friendship came your way. Remember and talk about your friend, look at photos, and think about him or her often.


SIMPLE KINDNESS=HOW TO BE KIND IN AN OFTEN RUDE WORLD