Episode 69: The Long Distance Friendship Video
Friendship is one of the biggest struggles we hear about in the Life after Kids Community...
We get questions like: "How do you make friends after the age of 40?" "How do you keep friendships?" "How do you find connections with other women that are high quality and meaningful?"
You asked, and we're answering in this week's episode of Life after Kids with Drs. Brooke and Lynne, The Friendship Video. In today's episode we're discussing our friendship and what we've done through the years to grow it and strengthen in spite of living so far from each other. So if you're struggling in the friendship department, or lack quality friendship in your immediate community, you'll definitely want to join us for this conversation. As always, we've included highlights below...
Be intentional, especially if your friends don't live close by. These friendships require more than a spontaneous get together for a glass of wine or cup of tea. Schedule time in your planner or set a daily alarm on your phone to remind you to text a friend regularly. Use these texts as a way to check in and let someone know you're thinking about them
Schedule a monthly zoom call with a long distance friend. Be sure to actually put it on the calendar. If you don't schedule it, the call will likely not happen. You'll blink your eyes and half a year will go by without ever catching up with your friend.
Have a regular accountability call. Read a book together. Do an online course together and discuss. Or, schedule weekly time just to share 3 wins and 3 losses from your week.
To gain friendship and to grow friendship, you have to be interested. Ask questions and really listen. We get so caught up in what's going on in our own life, but, it's important to take the time for our friends' lives too.
Plan a yearly weekend trip. It can be hard to pull women away from family time and day to day commitments, so plan the trip around something tangible, like a race, hike, concert, or women's conference.
If you're struggling finding friendships, consider reconnecting with a woman you have history with, like someone you grew up with or went highschool or college with.
Connection in this phase of life is everything. And, connection and friendship are just as important as exercise and healthy eating are to our overall health and wellbeing. We must be able to go deep with other women, sharing our feelings while being seen for who we truly are. If those types of women don't live in your immediate community, it may be time to think outside the box. Social media and technology can be hugely beneficial for growing long distance friendships. Get more friendship inspiration by clicking the picture above to watch this week’s episode of Life after Kids with Drs. Brooke and Lynne, The Friendship Video.
One more piece of advice before we go- if you've been burned, disappointed, or let down in the past, remember how important friendship is. Give yourself the gift of wiping the slate clean and starting over. People change. Circumstances can get better. Take the first step. Put yourself out there and see where it leads you. It might be difficult, but it will be worth it.
Women's friendships are like a renewable source of power.
-Jane Fonda