Hello again, what a lovely December morning.
Yep, December: 2021 is ending and we are getting ready to welcome 2022. In some ways, it can feel awkward in the in-between space. I totally get that. But in other ways, it can be exhilarating. We think back on where we've been and where we are going. This journey is made even more exciting with friends. A Chinese proverb by an unknown author once said that everything is good when new, but friends when old. Last week, we talked about making new friends. This week, we'll talk about celebrating the old ones.
My girlfriends from high school live in different countries: Jamaica, the US, Germany and Barbados. This year, we started doing a group video call every other month on a Sunday evening. Have you ever done something that you did not realise you needed? I needed it! We do not speak frequently, but whenever we do, it's laughter, advice, concern and love. This pandemic forced me to cherish what I used to take for granted.
There are three ways I can think about to be intentional about showing my old friends how much I appreciate them:
Create a memory bank with my old friend. It's as simple as writing down some of the memorable moments we've shared together.
Gather all the photographs I took together this year (or previous years) and place them in a special album on my phone.
Talk about them often.
These memories can serve as a source of energy for days when we're feeling low (and we're all certainly familiar with those days). They help to motivate us to keep pushing through. They remind us to be joyful instead of complain. The memories we share can help us relax and rest, so that we can get up and try again.
Reflection Questions
What are some of my fond memories from this year with an old friend?
Are there any friendships that I'm taking for granted?
What new information can I find out about an old friend?
What are some of the things I can do to create new memories with my old friend next year?
Kerry-Ann McPherson
Project Manager and Contributor
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