It’s easy to assume that all of your friends are going to be in the same place as you for the rest of their lives. But, it’s essential not to forget about old friends just because they’ve started a new chapter in their life.
Some people have friends they knew from the first day of school, and then there are those who meet them in college. Some met their best friend through work or by meeting at a concert. Whatever your story is about how you became friends, it’s important to remember that old friendships matter too.
Some studies show that the quality of an emotional bond between two individuals can be more vital with someone after more time has passed since they last saw each other than when they were younger.
That’s because part of getting older is figuring out what matters most to you, what makes you happy and feel fulfilled in life? And as we learn more about ourselves, we’re able to share these insights with our close ones — which helps us appreciate them even more.
***
Who is considered an old friend?
Old friends are people that you have a relationship with, but it’s not as close. They may be an old friend from school or work, someone who your parents know well and want to get to know better, or they might just be the person who lives across the street. Old friends can provide stability in times of change because they’re there for you when everything else changes around you.
It’s also important not to neglect relationships with people whose perspectives on things might differ from ours, so we don’t miss out on something important.
And finally, if we don’t maintain our friendships with people outside our social circle every now and then, we lose opportunities to grow in different directions by learning about other perspectives — which ultimately means losing new ways of problem-solving and brainstorming ideas.
Why do we need old friends?
We need old friends to provide stability in times of change and maintain relationships with people outside our social circle. They can also offer insight into situations we haven’t considered yet because they’re coming from a different perspective than us — which means new ways of problem-solving.
They also can help you through tricky times and give your life a new perspective every now and then. It’s easy to assume that all of our friends will be in the same place as us for the rest of their lives, but it’s important not to forget about old ones just because they’ve started on a new chapter in their own life — after all, old friends are part of how we became who we are today!
How can you make an effort to be in touch with your old friends?
We can make an effort to be in touch with our old friends by staying connected through social media, keeping up the relationship, and asking them about their lives. We might also want to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about some of those good times you had together.
I often feel like my life is lacking because I don’t have any connections from high school or college — so it’s important for me to try and stay in touch with people that were once close to me but are now living on different paths than mine. Another thing we could do is throw birthdays parties for these people every year, even if they live across the country, so that they know how special they are!
It’s easy to think all your friends will always be in the same place as you, but it’s essential not to neglect old friends just because they’ve started on a new chapter in their own life.
Ways to reconnect with your old friend
So if you haven’t contacted one of your old friends in a while, it’s time to try reconnecting with them — you might be surprised how much the relationship has changed and grown over the years. And who knows? You may even become closer than you were before! But either way, here are some ways that can make these connections happen:
- Use social media as an easy first step for reaching out by sending messages or posting on their walls; many people prefer this method because they don’t have to talk on the phone (which is nerve-wracking!) -Be subtle about it at first by asking general questions like “how are things going in life/work?” If they seem open to it, then try asking for a more specific update and send them your contact information.
- Ask if they would like you to share some travel photos with them or send their favorite TV show episodes on Netflix -If all else fails, move over to the “old-fashioned” way of sending letters or phone calls!
- If all else fails, move over to the “old-fashioned” way of sending letters or phone calls! You may not be able to see each other as often as before — sometimes people live across the country from one another now — but that doesn’t mean you can still make an effort to maintain this relationship.
You may not be able to see each other as often as before — sometimes people live across the country from one another now — but that doesn’t mean you can still make an effort to maintain this relationship.
So don’t hesitate; consider these opportunities today and reconnect with someone who has been in your life since day one. You’ll find yourself appreciating them even more than when you last saw them.
Tips for maintaining relationships with former classmates and co-workers
So you’ve reconnected with an old family friend and are finally catching up. What’s next?
- Stay in touch by emailing them, messaging on Facebook, or following their posts on Instagram to keep the conversation going! These platforms make it easy for instant communication without having to commit a lot of time just yet. Plus, they give you a chance to see what kinds of new things your friend is into these days, which may spark new conversations about all sorts of topics not related to work at all (or anything from before).
- If there’s an exciting event coming up that either one of you would enjoy attending together — such as a music concert, festival, or sports game — be sure to mention this so that someone can buy the tickets and plan for a time to meet up.
- If you’re really feeling brave, ask them if they would like some company over at their place some time as well! There are plenty of things that require two people, so don’t be shy about offering your help when someone needs it.
- If you’re feeling extra inspired, ask them to come over for dinner sometime and cook together. It’s a great way to get into the habit of cooking more often as well as spending time with someone in your life that may not be around very often anymore — and who knows? You might just discover some new recipes or find out about their old favorite dish!
Do something nice for them anonymously: clean up after their dog has been messy, bring over groceries because they mentioned running low at home — anything goes, really. This is another good way to catch people off guard without being too direct; the best way to know how someone is doing in life these days without having to worry about seeming too nosy.
***
Conclusion
Old friends can help you through tricky times and provide stability when everything else is changing around you. It’s also essential that we don’t neglect our relationships with people who may have different perspectives on things than us or might offer some insight into situations we haven’t considered yet.
I hope this article has convinced you to be proactive about reaching out to old friends. If not, that’s ok too. Hopefully, it was at least an interesting read and provided some insight into the importance of relationships with those who have been in your life for a long time.
It is something worth investing time in because as we grow older, there are fewer people around us, and even though they may not always be easy or perfect, our friendships keep us grounded and remind us who we really are. So take a moment today to reach out to someone whose number you’ve had on speed dial for years — don’t let anything come between two lifelong pals like distance or forgetfulness.
—
This post was previously published on Medium.
***
You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project
Compliments Men Want to Hear More Often | Relationships Aren’t Easy, But They’re Worth It | The One Thing Men Want More Than Sex | ..A Man’s Kiss Tells You Everything |
Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community.
A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities.
A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.