Use a checklist to periodically assess your friendships and social relationships: Reciprocity –Does your friend work at nurturing this relationship? Reliability – Is your friend reliable, trustworthy and predictable? Respectful – Do you feel seen, heard and valued in this friendship?

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.  –Maya Angelou A friend respects your boundaries – when you say, “no thank you”, they don’t push the issue. They respect your confidences. When you say, “it’s just…

There’s nothing like a really loyal, dependable, good friend. Nothing.  –Jennifer Aniston Reliability is the friend you can count on. It is the friend that has your back. They show up when they say they will and do what they said they would do. I once overheard a young woman tearfully…

Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. –Ed Cunningham Reciprocity of effort in friendship is basic. I initiate, you respond. You initiate, I respond. We take turns scheduling, planning, driving, hosting, buying, bringing, and sharing. We also take turns talking and…

Yes’m, old friends is always best, ‘less you can catch a new one that’s fit to make an old one out of. ― Sarah Orne Jewett Friendships change as we change, and friends often drift apart. We form our initial friendships based on proximity – the playmate next door. As we…

Use a checklist for self-evaluation to see how you are doing in relationship to creating and maintaining a healthy sense of community and belonging: Reciprocity: Do I do what I can to create a sense of connection and genuine community?Reliability: Am I a reliable, helpful member of my community or…

The only way to truly know someone is by being with them, by conversation. ― Eric Overby One way to foster a sense of community and improve well-being is to gather three to five willing participants in a quiet place for the purpose of having deeper, more meaningful conversations. Think of it as…

Momentary interactions such as greeting and thanking others can increase wellbeing and a sense of belonging. Proving the adage that to give is better than to receive, it turns out that greeting strangers with a simple “good morning” and chatting with those we don’t know can boost our own happiness….

Definition of good neighbor: someone to be trusted; a courteous, friendly source of help when help is needed; someone you can count on; someone who cares. –Edward B. Rust Jr. Being a reliable, contributing or (at least non annoying) member of a community or neighborhood is another essential element of…

Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room.—The Dalai Lama To paraphrase former President Kennedy “Ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for your community.” Know where and…