Making Friends
Friendships
We all need companionship. Friendship is an important part of life. Some people like to have many friends that they talk to and/or see occasionally, while others prefer to have a couple very close friends that they talk to and/or see frequently, and others like to have both types of friendships. Friendships are different for everyone. There is no recipe dictating how often you have to speak, what you have to talk about, exactly what to do when spending time together, or any other aspect of the friendship. It is up to each person how they develop and foster their relationships with people.
Friends Do:
Care about each other’s happiness
Like each other’s company
Take time to work through difficult situations
Share interests and hobbies
Look out for each other’s well-being
Get happy to see each other’s successes
Try to help each other when possible
Listen to each other
Talk about life experiences, successes and difficulties, family, hobbies, etc.
Make sacrifices
Friends Don’t:
Get jealous of each other
Have to talk every day
Make each other feel bad on purpose
Steal from each other
Use each other for their own benefit (for example, put you in a bad situation in order to get something they want)
Ask you to do things they know could get you in trouble
Embarrass you
Make you feel guilty
Have to tell deepest secrets in order to be a good friend
When you Hang Out
Setting up a time to hang out:
Decide on something both people will enjoy doing
Figure out the exact time/day to get together
Exchange phone numbers
Figure out how you will get to and from where you’re going
Figure out if you will need to bring anything (money, for example)
Show up!
Be the friend you would want others to be for you. Sometimes friends are only in our lives for a small time, when we work together, when we’re on a sports team or classmate, and sometimes you will be friends for a long time!
Remember To:
Take risks, live your life, ask questions, and find your fun!