Last week I shared with you that, after moving to a new state, I’m a bit lonely. I talked about how making friends is hard, and I shared my to-do list with you on how I was going to make friend-making a priority.
This week, I want to talk about the other side of the coin. Yes, moving has created a friend-shaped hole in my heart (for now), but it has also created a longing for the friends that I left behind.
I’ve said many goodbyes to friend that I love, and it never gets easier. But there are ways to make the distance feel a little less and to keep in touch with those far-away friends.
*Confession. I do not claim to do these things perfectly. I’ve let many phone calls go unreturned. There are letters I need to write. This list is for me just as it is for you. Let’s reconnect with our far-away friends together!*
1. Continue to make far-away friends a priority. Add their birthdays to your calendar. Call them on special occasions. Let them know that you’re thinking about them. They say distance can make the heart grow fonder, but we need to be actively and intentionally making our friends a priority in our lives, even if the distance is wide.
2. Find a communication method that works. For some, emails are best. For others, a quick phone call or text message can help you keep in touch. Find the best way to stay connected to far-away friends knowing that it might vary from person to person.
3. Make a “thinking about you” list. Make a list of far-away friends that you want to spend time each week thinking about, praying for, and reconnecting with. Post it in a prominent place so that you can have them on your mind and hopefully remember to send them a quick email to let them know you’re still here for them.
4. It’s never too late. We all have friends that we wish we’d stayed closer with after we/they moved away, and even though it seems like it’s too late, it never is. Pick up the phone, send a special card, shoot off a quick email. It’s amazing how much distance and time can disappear when you take the first steps to reconnect.
How have you stayed connected to far-away friends? I’d love to hear your suggestions for keeping your far-away friendships strong!
© 2012, Laura Denlinger. All rights reserved. Love it? Print, email, pin, tweet or share but please don’t use my work without permission. {Copyright Fancy Little Things. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this article or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.}
About Laura Denlinger
Great tips! I have several friends that have moved away from me. I will have to remember this.
Where did you move to in North Carolina? I am on the north east coast.
Sarah recently posted..Friday Favorites {Week #7}
Hi Sarah! We moved to NC about 7 weeks ago. Last week we finally made a few new friends at church! All in God’s timing I guess
Laura recently posted..What’s For Dinner?
Wonderful Laura. I’m the worst at keeping up with friends, especially in these last few years as my family has grown and my time to make phone calls is….non-existent. I love your tip to just pick up the phone, send the quick email…not matter how long it has been.
I wrote this as a reminder to myself more than anything — I need to just pick up the phone too!!
Laura recently posted..What’s For Dinner?
Facebook helps a lot. You can sort of stay connected to their everyday lives. Sometimes a certain person will be on my mind for a while, and so I just shoot them a quick message to say I’m thinking about you and hope you’re well, because I figure everyone likes to know they’re being thought about! My bestie and I are SO BAD about keeping in touch. But I know she thinks about me all the time and vice versa. Every once in a while we’ll shoot off a million emails to each other within a few days, and then more weeks of silence
Stephanie recently posted..Funny Love card – Not sent from my iPhone pixelated heart by RedLetterPaperCo
Facebook is awesome for staying and feeling connected to friends. And you’re right, a little note to tell someone you’re thinking about them can make all the difference in the world!
Laura recently posted..What’s For Dinner?
My college roommate and best friend has lived in Florida, 2 hours away from me, and then Dallas in the past 3 years. Whenever she’s close, we try to get together, but it is hard. Hoping to plan a trip to see her soon!
Julie Sancken recently posted..My Sister’s Wedding
That is super hard! But I also think that being far apart helps us realize how much we appreciate our friends! Hoping you can meet up with her soon!
Laura recently posted..What’s For Dinner?
Great tips! So important to tend to and cultivate the relationships that we have “left behind”. Lot’s of wisdom here!
Sarah Harmony-Powell recently posted..5 Fun Ways to Encourage and Edify
Thank you Sarah! It is important and something I need to focus more on myself!
Laura recently posted..What’s For Dinner?
Thanks for using my pic and photocrediting me. Love what you did with it