yurayurateikokuさんの おぼえた日記 - 2023年7月4日(火)

Let’s Talk to Strangers (5)

People don’t often include making and keeping friends in their list of life goals. But of one the biggest regrets people have when they realize they don’t have much longer to live is that they didn’t stay in touch with their friends.
So was it inevitable that the pandemic ruined our friendships? I suppose you could say the answer is yes and no. The pandemic might have kept people apart, but it’s also been bringing people closer together. But the omnipresent smartphones and laptops that help us stay in touch with distant friends may also have solidified that sense of distance.
Maintaining a friendship doesn’t mean you have to make grand gestures to prove the depth of that friendship. Sending your friends a news article or funny video that made you think of them can be enough to show that you care about them. Some people like to send their friends gifts of food. That makes people feel loved and cared for.
Friends usually don’t require the constant attention needed by romantic partners and children. That’s why small gestures that show someone we’re thinking about them can go a long way toward nurturing friends who may not always get as much one-on-one time as you’d booth like.
It’s been said before, but being a good listener helps. People who get to know others by asking lots of questions are consistently rated as more likeable than those who ask fewer questions. Asking questions of a person gives you an excellent chance to learn about the possible similarities you have.
Well, thanks for all these great insights, friends!