How To Rekindle Your Old Friendships

As time flows by, people come in and out of our lives. Maybe you have a childhood friend who is no longer a part of your life because you/they moved away, life took you on different paths, or you drifted apart for no reason in particular. Then, some people come into our lives for only a short while but leave a lasting impact. It could be an old flatmate or a friend you made while traveling. Yet, these people continue to take up real estate in your heart. Now and then, you think about them and wonder how they are doing. You smile at the great memories you shared and sometimes wish you still had them in your life.

Does someone come to mind? Why not try to reconnect with them? Reconnecting could mean restarting the friendship and be more active in each other’s lives. It could also be having a pleasant and short exchange that doesn’t go beyond that.

The past year has been very isolating. Most of us haven’t seen our friends, our coworkers, our gym buddies, etc. These relationships strong and casual relationships play an important role in our social well-being. For some of us, this isolation has had intense effects on our mental state. So, rekindling old friendships could also mean reconnecting with people you haven’t seen in the last year.

If you want to rekindle an old friendship but not sure if or why you should, here’s one reason:

Reach out to an old friend because the last year has been difficult for everyone. The ongoing pandemic is a good reason to check up on old friends and acquaintances. Send a sweet message to them asking how they are doing, wishing them well, or giving them a chance to chat or vent about the year they’ve had.

Now you have a why here are three suggestions on how you can reconnect with an old friend.

Send a sweet note devoid of expectations

Send them a sweet note or letter. Be earnest and reminisce on some old memories you share. Give them the option of not replying. That way, they don’t feel pressured or ambushed. Notes like this could brighten someone’s day and could be a welcome and pleasant surprise.

Catchup on a video call

Video calls (when planned) are wholesome. They give all parties a chance to connect and have better conversations. Instead of a text or phone call, ask them if they’ll like to reconnect over a video call and expect to have a fun call full of smiles and laughs. (Disclaimer: Not sponsored by Zoom).

Meet up for coffee or lunch

With social distancing rules becoming more relaxed accompanied by an increasingly rapid rollout, meeting a friend for coffee or lunch isn’t such a bad idea. Meeting in person can take away a huge chunk of awkwardness that might otherwise exist when you’re seeing someone you haven’t seen in a while. A coffee or lunch date is more casual and takes the pressure off and can be brief. It also gives you a chance to connect in a very clear yet low-pressure setting.

PS: Please don’t use this as an excuse to reach out to your ex. That’s a no-no.

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Jiji Ugboma

Editor in Chief

Jiji is a writer, entrepreneur, and digital marketing specialist based in New York. She writes about personal development, self-actualization, mental health, and creativity as they relate to the quarter-life crisis experiences of millennials and gen-z. She has a deep love for quirky podcasts, coffee, and chocolate desserts.

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