Get Excited About New Beginnings

The women in my family are spread across the USA. From Texas to St. Louis, Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Mo. East St. Louis, Ill, San Francisco, California, Oceanside, California, Vista California, Atlanta Georgia just mention a few. Finding creative ways to reunite is easy, comfortable, and fun. New beginnings give each of us a chance to revitalize relationships, reconnect our communications, revitalize our connections and revisit our memories of good times as we come together.

A best friend is there for you through thick and thin. It's someone who listens and understands you. Someone you can call anytime about anything you feel you need to 'tell' or 'vent'. It's someone who will stand up for you in the times when you need it most, keep your secrets close, and someone you can trust with your life.

Having good friends who love and support you for who you are is important for your happiness. Figure out what makes a good friend and learn how you can be there for your friends when they need you most. This can help if:

· you’re not sure about a friendship

· you don’t know what to do or say to a friend

· you want to figure out what a good friend is and how to be one.

Signs of a good friend

Friends will come and go in your life. No matter how long your friendships last, the most important thing is your friends’ acceptance of you for who you are. A good friend walks the talk and shows that they care by their actions – big and small.

A good friend:

· is there for you, no matter what

· doesn’t judge you

· doesn’t put you down or deliberately hurt your feelings

· is kind and respectful to you

· is someone whose company you enjoy

· is loyal

· is trustworthy and willing to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard for you to hear

· laughs with you

· sticks around when things get tough

· makes you smile

· is there to listen

· comforts you when you cry.

How to be a good friend

If you treat the people around you in the ways described above, then you’re already a good friend to them. But it’s not always easy to know how to be there for your friends.

Listen to them - Try to understand a situation from your friend’s point of view. Ask questions to get a sense of the problem or issue, but the main thing is to listen to them. You don’t have to have all the answers, and don’t assume that your friend wants advice – they might just want to talk so that they can work it out for themselves.

Get the facts - If your friend has a medical or mental health issue, a good way to offer support is to learn about what they’ve been diagnosed with. Being interested in what they’re going through shows you care, and that you plan to stick around no matter what’s going on.

Ask them what they need - If you’re worried about someone and you want to be there for them, ask them what they need. You’ll then know what they find helpful during tough times, and you can offer them support in a way that’s genuinely helpful.

Get physical - If you’re a hugger, ask your friend whether it’d be okay to hug them. Once you get the thumbs up, hug away! Hugging your friends can be a great way to show you care for them. Physical contact can be comforting, especially when someone feels alone.

Keep in touch - Even if you don’t live nearby, show your friends you’re there for them by trying to keep in regular touch through social media, texts, or calls.

Tell them how you feel - You don’t have to make a big deal about it, but you can make a real difference to how someone is feeling just by letting them know how important they are to you. So, go for it!

Be willing to make a tough call - If you think your friend’s safety is at risk, you might need to act without their consent and get help. It can be a tough call, particularly when you’re worried about how they’ll react, but remember that good friends care enough to step up, and that you’re doing it to protect them from harm.