It’s easy to lose touch with friends — even those who matter the most. Take a moment to hit the pause button on your busy life and catch up with an old friend. You’ll be glad you did.
Challenge: make plans with someone you haven’t seen in a while
Why? Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life. They boost self-confidence, reduce stress and help you out in good times and bad. It can take some effort to nurture friendships, but the payoff is more than worth it.
Megan: It’s nice to reconnect with old friends. It’s even better when you’re able to do it over an afternoon full of Starbucks Discoveries Caffè Mocha. Between the two of us, my friend Kristy and I have two toddlers and a newborn. That means drinks are usually slurped down and meals are often inhaled in a whirlwind of ketchup and meatballs. Not today. Today Kristy and I made time to find everyday inspiration in a tall, cold glass of Starbucks Discoveries Caffè Mocha and to talk about something other than cartoons and crayons. We had a delicious mommy time of our own.
Patrice: My challenge this week was to meet with a friend I haven’t seen in a while. Immediately I thought of my friend Tameka. Tameka is that friend who is the opposite of judgmental. I can tell her anything and she’ll listen and laugh and/or sympathize with me. She is a great confidante. Such a necessary friend. Even though she doesn’t live far from me, life doesn’t allow us to see each other often. I texted her, told her my challenge and that I wanted to see her. She enthusiastically accepted. Fast-forward to the weekend: We spent the day drinking beer, driving around Philly looking for Girls Auto Clinic shop locations and trying out new bars. We talked about love, family, love, work and love. Ask me in 20 years to blog about our Saturday adventures again. It will be just as great.
Chaton: I had a baby about seven weeks ago and have been isolated to the point of not answering my telephone. I know that the callers are well-intentioned. However, the calls are often an unpleasant interruption to breastfeeding, diaper changing or sleeping. So, I have turned off the ringer on my house phone, put my cell phone on vibrate and unconsciously ignored phone calls, much to the annoyance of my friends and family.
As much as I have enjoyed hibernating with my baby, I recognize that family and friends want to visit. I am also getting the urge to engage in some adult conversation. So, I was excited to finally agree to have a friend come over to see the baby. Despite resisting the visit for over a month, it was exactly what I needed. She and I were able to catch up while she held the baby and I got a bit of a break. It went so well, I questioned why I had resisted in the first place. However, after she left, I returned comfortably to my place on the couch, hypnotized by my baby.
Our Everyday Inspiration series wants to inspire you with small ways to improve your life. We’ve asked 20 women to take on a variety of small challenges and share their results. See all of our Everyday Inspiration challenges here, and meet the women here.
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