Holiday Cookies: Friendships
By: Alicia Stallings on (0 comments)
There is a great deal of diversity in the relationships that fall under the category of ‘Friendship.’ Some are extremely intimate, and the involved parties are like sisters and some are casual, in which the involved parties only accompany each other to social activities and entertainment venues. And there are a multitude of other relationship variations that fall along the diverse spectrum of Friendship.
But whatever the type of Friendships you have, they require nurturing and investment. At times, this means nothing more than letting your friends know that you are thinking about them, or that they are appreciated. Here are some suggestions for doing so during the Holidays:
Send a *hand-written* Christmas card: Few things are as heart-felt as sending (and receiving) love through the mail. In a day and age when we are inundated with impersonal, mass-produced messages in our emails and phones, a few kind words and well wishes on a hand-written note go a long way.
Give them a call! It is amazing how simply hearing the voice of someone to whom you have not spoken in a while can conjure-up memories and give one the feeling of reconnecting. Unlike emails, and even hand-written notes, vocal communication is unscripted and real-time, and allows friends to communicate as they once did, when they were in the same place and had time.
Just a word of caution: as the Holidays tend to be a hectic time, try to call earlier than later, to ensure that there is adequate time to let the conversation flow freely, with minimal time restrictions.
Invite them out for a cup of tea or coffee! With the stresses of life, kids and work, it’s easy to lose touch. Reconnecting over a coffee or even a bite to eat is a great low-stress way to get back in touch. This can be done one-on one or in a small group, if everyone is acquainted.
Throw a soiree! The holidays are about celebrating anyway! Compile a list of current friends, friends with whom you would like to reconnect and perhaps family, and bring them all together for drinks, food and merriment. Not only will this give you an opportunity to see and catch-up with friends, it will also give those in your life the opportunity to meet new people and to connect with individuals with whom they too may have lost touch.
Invite Friends to Family Events! Nothing says “I love you like family” like inviting friends to family events. During the Holidays, feel free to extend invitations to close friends to join you at family gatherings. Rather it is at a child’s Christmas Play or Christmas dinner itself, inviting friends to family events is a warm and intimate gesture, and makes for even greater Holiday events.
Try one of these other Holiday Cookie recipes to create successful relationships:
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