Keeping in touch – maintaining lasting friendships
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“The only way to have a friend is to be one” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s ironic - in a world with almost unlimited communication options, many of us find it increasingly difficult to stay in touch with those whom we care the most about. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day’s events that we forget how important it is to connect and share with good friends and family members.
The good news is that developing good friendship habits needn’t be difficult or time consuming. Here are a few tricks that you may find helpful for staying connected and sharing special moments for years to come.
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You are far more likely to pick up the phone when you have the right numbers on hand and a spare moment. Make sure that your home phone has all your best friends on speed dial, and don’t forget to add their numbers to your mobile as well. It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll find it much easier to take advantage of those “in between moments” between meetings or when waiting for a bus.
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Be the type of person who remembers birthdays and anniversaries. Whether you use a fancy online scheduler or a paper calendar, it only takes a moment to mark special dates. A short, heartfelt phone call or email, delivered at the right time, may mean the world to friends and opens up communication so that you can plan your next get-together.
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Everyone loves to get mail, and email is certainly no exception. If you haven’t heard from someone in a while, a little email to say “I’m thinking of you” has the power to re-connect old friends.
If your family takes a lot of digital photos, consider using a photo sharing service such as Flickr™ or Picasa™. They’re free, and can be easily accessed by those eager to check out the pictures of the family trip to Cuba. If the thought of photo sharing leaves you intimidated, you can also send select pictures to others via email.
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You may have friends or family members who are taking advantage of “social networking” tools such as Facebook™ and MySpace™ to stay connected with each other. These tools can be a bit intimidating at first, but with a little practice you may find them habit-forming, as you can easily share photos, chat and play games with your friends. If you have any teenage children at home you may be able to get a crash course to start you on your way!
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Give these simple tricks a try and see if they help you keep in better touch. And remember, making a little extra effort in a friendship always pays off in great memories that will last a lifetime.
