This week is particularly personal for me as I pay tribute to my friend who passed away last week. So this one is for you Chris. Being a better friend involves a combination of empathy, communication, effort, and understanding. Here are key ways to enhance your friendships:

1. Listen actively
2. Communicate openly and honestly
3. Show appreciation
4. Be reliable
5. Respect boundaries
6. Support them
7. Spend quality time together
8. Be empathetic
9. Offer constructive feedback
10. Apologise when necessary
11. Celebrate their individuality
12. Keep in touch
13. Handle conflicts maturely
14. Be consistent
15. Grow together

Remember, being a better friend is a continuous process. It requires effort, understanding, and a willingness to adapt and grow alongside each other.

How can we be better or even the best friends possible?

Thanks to the following guests for participating:

Trin Garritano, co-author and co-host of Friendshipping. Garritano is a game developer, writer of tabletop games. She’d like to believe that she made all of her social mistakes so you don’t have to. Here is the full interview:

Elizabeth Arifien, Artistic Director and Founder of Creative Dance London.

Here are some of the resources from the show:

Rachel Wilkerson Miller speaks to Politics and Prose:

Shasta Nelson hosts a Ted Talk on Frientimacy in 2017:

Books looked at this week:

Trin Garritano and Jenn Bane: Friendshipping: The Art of Finding Friends, Being Friends, and Keeping Friends

Rachel Wilkerson Miller: Art of Showing Up

Shasta Nelson: Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness

PS. I do not receive commission for reviewing books and talks.

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Transcription