Friendship Thursday
By Barrington H.
Brennen, December 18, 2014
Today is Friendship Thursday. It is a time to emphasize the
importance of friendship and to encourage everyone to make
new friends today or rekindle old friendships. This article
is the third in the series during the month of December
dubbed by Sounds of Encouragement (SOE) as “Social
Transformation Month.” Last Thursday was “Smiling
Thursday.” During the month of December we are inviting
every resident of The Bahamas, Black and White, foreigner
and Bahamian to engage in social transformation by doing
simple acts that SOE believes can change our country for the
better. Next week, December 25 will be “Giving Thursday.”
Then finally, January 1 will be “New Relationship Thursday.”
The next two Thursdays are public holidays (Christmas and
New Year’s Day). Therefore, the newspapers will not be
printed those days. However, I want to remind you that
December 25 is “Giving Thursday” and January 1, 2015, is New
Relationship Thursday. On December 25 (Christmas Day) I
invite everyone to find a way of giving something to someone
in need. It could be a warm meal, a piece of clothing, a
pair of shoes, your time and skill to do much-needed repairs
on a house, etc. Make Christmas Day a real day of giving
and sharing. On Thursday, January 1, 2015, it will be
“New Relationship Day.” On this day (January 1, 2015) I
encourage everyone to seek to create a new friendship
relationship or strengthen old ones. Find someone you know
at work, a neighbor, or anyone familiar that you have not
really connected closely with. Seek for form long-lasting
meaningful friendship relationship. You may also seek to
strengthen a friendship relationship or start a new
relationship by doing one of the following:
·
Write a letter to a friend
·
Purchase a friendship card for a friend
·
Invited a friend for a meal in your home
·
Invite neighbors to watch a movie together with you
·
Invite a neighbor to your home.
·
Visit the neighbors next door and share something with them
·
Call a friend
·
Email a friend
Today, it is friendship day. Yes, it is obvious that
today’s emphasis is similar to the first day in January.
Today, the focus is not necessarily creating now
relationship but strengthening old ones instead. However,
the suggestions above can be used on both days.
We boast of being a friendly people but in truth, we have
lost the warmth and the special touch of being friendly to
others. We must change this. We need to start by being
friendly to our own people. We need to be friendly our
neighbors, fellow church members, social club members,
co-workers, etc. When we sincerely seek to do that we can
begin to make a difference in our communities and our
country.
Even if only we made an effort to connect with someone with
common interests, values, similar history, that would make a
big difference in our communities.
HOW TO ATTRACT FRIENDS
How can one attract friends? I think Dr.
Alex Lickerman puts it very
clearly in his article “The True Meaning Of
Friendship.” He quotes from Gandhi: "Be the change you wish
to see in the world." Dr. Lickerman continues: “Be the
friend you want to have. We all tend to attract people into
our lives whose character mirrors our own. You don't have to
make yourself into what you think others would find
attractive. No matter what your areas of interest, others
share them somewhere. Simply make yourself a big target.
Join social clubs organized around activities you enjoy.
Leverage the Internet to find people of like mind. Take
action.”
Dear reader, let the change begin with you. Happy
friendship Thursday!
Barrington H. Brennen is
the co founder and president of Sounds of Encouragement. He
is a marriage and family therapist and board certified
clinical psychotherapist, USA. Send your questions or
comments to barringtonbrennen@gmail.com or
write to P.O. Box CB-13019, Nassau, The Bahamas, or visit www.soencouragement.org or
call 242-327-1980 or 242-477-4002
