This week, at the Straz Center: “Dear Evan Hansen” – it is running from now until Sunday, February 6th. Grab your tickets here.
*disclaimer: thanks to my relationship with The Straz Center and the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I did receive the opportunity to see “Dear Evan Hansen” exchange for blog & social media love. all opinions are my own.
While watching the show, it got me thinking of friendships. We all have them, they are not all created equal, and as adults – it just becomes harder and harder to make friends. *there are some truth bombs right off the bat!
As I just step onto my ‘Ted-Talk box’, a few things to remember about friendships: they are a two-way road, don’t neglect to look back and reflect on your friendships and take a second look. Friends will come and go in your life and that is completely normal. So many times friendships can fall out of place, AND THAT IS OK. And oftentimes, I really do believe that some people come into your life for a specific amount of time… and that’s it.
But now that I’m off my box, here are a few things to help nourish your current friendships and relationships:
Two-way street.
I just mentioned before, relationships are a two-way street. Do not feel bad to sit back, look and see how much effort you are putting into the relationship, and maybe you’re not getting the same effort in return. And, don’t let your ego get in the way when maybe, you should be putting forth a little more effort into the relationship. #wegetcomfortable
Just listen.
Oftentimes, just listen. I do this way too often… but we want to give our input, or give a fix, or help solve a problem and that is not what is needed from us at the moment. So many times (speaking from experience here), our partner or friend just wants us to listen. This is definitely a learned skill and one I am personally working on – my brain and character is to be a problem solver. But, once you listen and give them all ear, you can ask if they want your two cents – and they usually do! (internal yay!) But if it is one thing I have learned in my current relationship – it is so important for your partner to be heard, and feel heard. And, in return, it feels soooo good when you receive the same.
Check-in with it with your people.
Again, speaking from experience, we get busy! Sometimes, we forget to reach out to mom, or our friend in Hawaii or even a neighbor. Take two seconds right now and send them a quick text that you just wanted to say hi and that you were thinking of them. Really, do it. You never know when that simple act of reaching out and kindness can be most needed.
So I challenge you this week: one, grab tickets for “Dear Evan Hansen” and two, how are you going to be a good friend?
