No, not the lose weight or exercise type of resolution—I’m talking about the enhance-your-life-in-the-name-of-friendship resolution.
We have all had our times of self-centeredness, where a friendship gets neglected. Why not make a simple resolution to reconnect with an old friend? If you’re like most people, you have drifted away from a good friend, most likely caused by going in different directions. Perhaps your priorities have shifted back to a place where you can now make time for an important friendship.
Even if it’s not a simple drifting away, but one of some minor hurt feelings getting in the way of reaching out, you should still attempt to connect. If you've been keeping a mental tab of who called who last, or who owes who an email, you need to get over it. What does it matter? What difference does it make? An unreturned phone call is nothing that should be taken personally. This is no reason to let the flame of a friendship burn out. If you haven't heard from her in a while, pick up the phone and call!
I saw a friendship almost end over friend A giving friend B some advice that friend B took as meddling and intrusive. I know that A was just trying to help steer B in a better direction, and B took it in a very wrong way. Friends will sometimes anger us. I know some people who set their friendship standards too high and the result is always disappointment. It is not a betrayal to have a friend forget to call you back. Don’t be that high-maintenance a friend, because this type of friendship is difficult to keep.
Looking back on 2011, did you neglect any loving friendships? Make a resolution in 2012 to take the time to visit with friends or invite guests over. You won’t regret it.
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