Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness

by Shasta Nelson

Ideas for New Activities DARING: Invite a friend from one container of your life (e.g., work, church, kids’ school) to do something completely outside that one shared area. AMBITIOUS: Think of two to three really fun things you want to do this year that might take planning ahead of time. (Camping? Attending a musical? Girls’ weekend in the city?) Commit to finding friends to join you. EXPERIMENTAL: Try to think of one memorable activity to shake things up a bit with a close friend. Can’t think of one? Well, what might you want to take a picture doing? (Hot air balloon? Wine-tasting? Piloting a tandem bicycle?) IMPROMPTU: Commit to once or twice this month reaching out to someone with a last-minute invite. For example, “I’ll be in your neighborhood tonight—any chance you can meet up for a drink?” Or, “Hey, if I were to show up with Chinese takeout tonight, would you be up for watching TV together?” ROUTINE: Sometimes the best thing we can do is invite someone to do the things with us that seem small—perhaps grocery shopping together, getting manicures, meeting at the Farmers’ market, or walking around your neighborhood.