Dear friend,
Welcome, or welcome back! In case you missed it: I have lived in seven cities across five states in the last decade. Two of those moves were for career promotions, two of those moves were marriage-related. All of those moves required me to meet new people. Make new friends. And y’all – I LOVE humans. I love people. I am an extreme extrovert. And even I, as a people-loving, extremely extroverted, talkative millennial, have struggled to connect at times.
Enter this blog: all about how to make, keep, and enrich life-giving friendships that make your life more colorful, bright, and fulfilled. I invite you to come back every Monday for friendship tips.
Think of me as your friend in the city. Your sis, encouraging you to make new connections. Today’s friendship tip is below!
What do Taylor Swift, friendship bracelets, and beads have to do with making new friends?
While I am not a “Swiftie”, and I did not attend the Era’s tour, it did touch my heart to see friendship bracelets popping up all over the place because of Taylor-mania last summer.
Grown women, I mean people older and more established than me, were making bracelets like the ones pictured and sporting them proudly at concerts and even all around town.
So, what’s the big deal?
Remember when we were young, and the most exciting thing was getting matching BFF keychains, necklaces, or bracelets?
What was meaningful about these shared items is that they signified something bigger than the cheap metal that rusts within a couple of months.
These mementos signify a bond, and I think it is important for us to have memories of friendship, and that fuels more motivation for friendship activities in the future.
Here are some ways to create physical things that remind you about your friends, and encourage you reach out!
- Print out your pictures together! I know – it’s super “old school,” but for around 19¢, you can upload your pictures to your Walgreens or local photo printing shop, pick them up, and put them on your wall, mirror, or fridge. Taking photos off your phone and on your real-life wall reminds you of the good times with friends and can fuel your desire to hang out again!
- Make things with your friends, and then keep them on your desk, wall, etc. I made a candle with friends a few months ago and kept it on my desk, so everytime I burn it, I remember great times with friends!
- Create a shared Spotify playlist: This one is a fun idea to stay connected to friends near and far. Share songs that remind you of fun memories together. One of my college friend group’s favorite jams is “Pretty Girls Rock” by Kerry Hilson.
I believe that by doing these things above, it can lead to you being inspired to spend even more time investing in friendship in real life.
Remember, you don’t need a ton of friends. You just need a few good ones.
Your friend in the city,
Vimbo
P.S. ❤️ Subscribe to my weekly Sunshine Emails that go out on Mondays, click HERE 😊
