Ways to Celebrate National Friendship Month
February is friendship month. How will you celebrate it? Here are some ideas you can use to observe the month and take care of yourself at the same time.
Friends can open up new worlds for us: both the ones we have and the ones we havent met just yet. They can introduce us to new perspectives and experiences if were willing. It takes just a bit of courage and a willingness to be uncomfortable for a while
Make a new friend
In this age of the pandemic, making a new friend can be challenging or even frightening for some to step outside their comfort zone and meet someone new. There are ways to meet new people and maintain caution.
For the more cautious among us, you can join an online Facebook group with others who have a common interest, or throw an online event via Zoom or Google Meet (trivia, open mic, game night, etc.) and invite friends, who invite other friends, and you might end up connecting with someone new.
For those willing to step out and meet someone in person, here are some ideas you might try:
- Invite a coworker you'd like to get to know better to coffee or lunch
- Join a local affinity group (running, public speaking, biking, etc.)
- Take a CE class through Amarillo College (and use your employee scholarship)
- Volunteer with a local nonprofit organization
- Reconnect with an old friend
Has there been someone on your mind recently who you havent seen or spoken to in a while? Maybe thats a good reason to reach out and try to reconnect with them. Meet for lunch or coffee, or just have a conversation over the phone. If youre far away, consider meeting online and connecting virtually.
Remember when people wrote cards and letters? That could be another way to reach out and revitalize a friendship. Write them a letter or card and send it via (gasp!) snail mail.
Connect with current friends
Maybe you just want to connect with a friend or friends you already have. Thats fine, too. You might want to host a small get-together at your house, meet some friends for drinks or dinner, or meet with a friend for coffee or lunch. You might want to learn a new hobby or skill together as well. There are numerous ways you can connect with your current social circle.
Benefits of friendship
Regardless of how you decide to connect with others, there is research that has long conveyed the benefits that friendship holds: people who have close connections enjoy better health, quicker recovery from illness, and longer life. It also gives us a context in which we can learn social skills, network personally and professionally, and experience support and compassion. There are a number of benefits friendships can offer. In her article in Psychology Today, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., lists fifteen reasons friendships are beneficial.
Use one of these ideas (or come up with your own) to make a new friend, reconnect with an old one, or connect with a current friend. It might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but imagine the benefits youll both experience. Who knows what new worlds you might open up and experience together?
