How to Deal With a Flaky Friend
When my friend Shannon told me that she was accepted to graduate school in California, I was excited for her. I don’t get to see…
friendships
Tips for Listening to Understand, Not to Respond
Recently, I asked if my roommates had time to talk. On the brink of tears, I was not necessarily seeking advice, but rather a listening…
Low-Cost Ways to Brighten Someone’s Day
I like to think of myself as a positive person — someone who can shake things off and always believes blue skies are around the…
Not a Natural At Branching Out? Try These Techniques
When I first moved home from college, I was shaken to realize that all of my close high school friends had dispersed from the area. For the…
How to Recover From Social Burnout
I grew up homeschooled in a military family. We moved around a lot, and without a classroom full of children my own age, I made…
The Benefits of Boundaries: Making Our Limits Clear in Life and Love
“Let’s plan to eat all our meals together,” my new neighbor gushed to the group gathered in our dorm’s lounge, awing me with her social…
What Your Friend Really Needs When Their Relationship Is Toxic
When I was a teenager, there was a boy I thought needed saving. He was a boy whose home life was unstable, and whose mother…
How to Help a Friend Dealing with Health Issues
When I first got sick with Lyme disease at 14, I didn’t expect that it would linger. At first, my mailbox was flooded with get…
How to Be a Better Friend to Someone with OCD
I have suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) my entire life. The persistent thoughts, urges, and impulses started at an early age. When I was old…
What to Do When Your Date Strikes Out with Your Friends
It finally happens: You meet your match made in Heaven, your soulmate, the one and only… and you realize the person who is oh-so-perfect for…
