The Perfect Guide to Maintaining A Friendship

[Jeff777]

Friendships are important because, with proper maintenance.. they can be lifelong. Unless both people stay in touch, then the friendship is doomed. It takes work to maintain. Courtesy calls when one or both people are away help keep the relationship alive. Kind words when the other person is down helps strengthen the friendship. Yearly outings where you and your friend travel is also important. Only comfort a friend when you've had time to think about what to say. Utilize friendship building tools like books on relationships, they are priceless. Realize that time is needed to invest in a friendship. Make AND take time. Friends is a term I think many use but few understand the value of it. Do you? Remembering the good times and reflecting over the past together creates nostalgia. Do this with them. Independence is vital to a friendship. BE their friend, do not over stay your welcome. Exercise together. Many friendships are strengthened in the gym. Never take your friend or their time for granted. The world does NOT revolve around you. Digest whatever they say to you before responding. DO NOT think of your response WHILE they are still talking. Simplicity is important. Remember, it's the little things that matter. Give and take. All relationships are based on this principle. A friendship isn't parasitic, it's mutualistic. Ignite a fire toward their passions and dreams. What are they passionate about? Be supportive and encouraging. Recognizing that a friendship takes two to tango is also important. You're not in it by yourself. Nor, are they. Learn from the subtleties. 95% of communication is non-verbal, learn how to read the subtle signs they give off. Feel out their feelings. A real friend know what their friend is thinking/feeling before they even utter a word. Raise your friend up. Compliment your friend, give sincere compliments.. not facetious flattery. Instill words of wisdom to your friend. Friends are there to help each other grow. Are you helping or hindering them? Enrich their day with gifts. Friends like that you think about them out of the blue. Show your thoughtfulness by buying them a gift at random sometime. Never disrespect or belittle their thoughts, ideas or opinions. Respect their mind, and above all, respect them. Don't ever take things at face value. Read between the lines. There may be a double meaning in the things they tell you.

[Zezarict]

Friendships are important because, with proper maintenance.. they can be lifelong. Unless both people stay in touch, then the friendship is doomed. It takes work to maintain. Courtesy calls when one or both people are away help keep the relationship alive. Kind words when the other person is down helps strengthen the friendship. Yearly outings where you and your friend travel is also important. Only comfort a friend when you've had time to think about what to say. Utilize friendship building tools like books on relationships, they are priceless. Realize that time is needed to invest in a friendship. Make AND take time. Friends is a term I think many use but few understand the value of it. Do you? Remembering the good times and reflecting over the past together creates nostalgia. Do this with them. Independency is critical to a friendship. BE their friend, do not over stay your welcome. Exercise together. Many friendships are strengthened in the gym. Never take your friend or their time for granted. The world does NOT revolve around you. Digest whatever they say to you before responding. DO NOT think of your response WHILE they are still talking. Simplicity is important. Remember, it's the little things that matter. Give and take. All relationships are based on this principle. A friendship isn't parasitic, it's mutualistic. Ignite a fire toward their passions and dreams. What are they passionate about? Be supportive and encouraging. Recognizing that a friendship takes two to tango is also important. You're not in it by yourself. Nor, are they. Learn from the subtleties. 95% of communication is non-verbal, learn how to read the subtle signs they give off. Feel out their feelings. A real friend know what their friend is thinking/feeling before they even utter a word. Raise your friend up. Compliment your friend, give sincere compliments.. not facetious flattery. Instill words of wisdom to your friend. Friends are there to help each other grow. Are you helping or hindering them? Enrich their day with gifts. Friends like that you think about them out of the blue. Show your thoughtfulness by buying them a gift at random sometime. Never disrespect or belittle their thoughts, ideas or opinions. Respect their mind, and above all, respect them. Don't ever take things at face value. Read between the lines. There may be a double meaning in the things they tell you. Look at highlighted quote. Yesterday my friend from kindergarden, 10 years ago (which is a long time when you are 14), got my msn address from someone and added me on msn and wants to meet up. I am in yr 9, I had'nt seen or heard from her in 10 years and we still thought of eachother as friends,theory that friendship is doomed from no communication, disproved

[Zezarict]

Really big coincedence huh?

[Jeff777]

Wow, yeah. :O

[Darkmatters]

I'm not sure I'd call that Maintaining a friendship though... more like you abandoned it and then rekindled it later - or put it on hold. Results not typical. Good write-up Jeff!

[Jeff777]

Thanks. Noone seems to have gotten the zinger part about it yet though.

[Xaqaria]

Thanks. Noone seems to have gotten the zinger part about it yet though. Probably because some of the sentences wrap when they shouldn't. Edit: So weird. I don't know how that smiley ended up at the top of my post.

[Xox]

Wow, that's...really unfortunate. hahahahah

[Zezarict]

I'm not sure I'd call that Maintaining a friendship though... more like you abandoned it and then rekindled it later - or put it on hold. Results not typical. Good write-up Jeff! No, we just didn't know what a phone number was when we were 4, and we didn't know your addresses either...so, no way to do it. We both tried to find eachother and we did...we couldn't find eachother in the phone book

[Darkmatters]

I didn't mean you abandoned it by choice... just that the friendship ended. The internet is a wonderful thing isn't it? Bringing people back together! Ok Jeff... it's clear now there's a hidden meaning, and some of the lines do seem odd... but I can't figure it out. Read between the lines. Hmmm...

[AURON]

Spoiler for for answer: fuck your friends girlfriend. How sad.

[Jeff777]

Spoiler for for answer: fuck your friends girlfriend. How sad. Pure coincidence.

[Darkmatters]

LOL ok, now I see it. Damn, I even thought it was something like that! Couldn't see it though till Akono pointed it out. I was trying to find lines that contradicted each other, reading every other line, etc...

[Darkmatters]

[AURON]

I wrote a poem in a similar fashion.

[spockman]

... Thanks for the advice, Jeff. I intend to do all of these. All of them. Twice.

[reci]

Exercise together. Many friendships are strengthened in the gym. I like cheesy wordplay

[Jeff777]

I like cheesy wordplay PURE COINCIDENCE!!!

[Man of Steel]

I'm not sure it's in me.* To do all of these things. I'm sorry, Geoff. *(That's what she said.)

[lucidreamsavy]

Jeff, that's all really insightful, and so true! I'll see if I can put it into good use.. I'm not sure it's in me.* To do all of these things. I'm sorry, Geoff. *(That's what she said.) . That sounds like something I'VE said!

[Zezarict]

Jeff, that's all really insightful, and so true! I'll see if I can put it into good use.. . That sounds like something I'VE said! Errr...HEY! YOU UNQUOTED ME IN YOUR SIG! DISCONNECTED FOR 3 MEASLY DAYS AND THIS IS WHAT I COME BACK TO

[lucidreamsavy]

Errr...HEY! YOU UNQUOTED ME IN YOUR SIG! DISCONNECTED FOR 3 MEASLY DAYS AND THIS IS WHAT I COME BACK TO Sorry Zez...I was going to try to keep it, but I thought this would be perfect for my sig. :sorry:

[Zezarict]

Sorry Zez...I was going to try to keep it, but I thought this would be perfect for my sig. :sorry: Yea it does...

[nina]

. That sounds like something I'VE said! Wow, that's...really unfortunate.