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CG ShopHealthy friendships |
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| Written by CG Girl |
| Friday, 09 October 2009 18:16 |
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ADVICE COLUMN: HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS BY JUDITH GORDON I remember a girl in my 11th grade English class who complained about her “best friend” all of the time. She used to say her friend was stupid, didn’t deserve her boyfriend, had terrible taste in clothes and would never amount to much. I always thought, “With a friend like that, who needs enemies!” This was obviously a lose-lose relationship. We all know how that works. But how do we prevent that from happening? How do we build a solid relationship? How should we choose our friends? The very first step in a friendship is acknowledging that you accept your friend exactly as he/she is. Don’t try to change them. If you can’t accept them, you are not friend material for each other. Don’t talk about your friend in a negative or critical way. Don’t say mean things to their face or talk behind their backs to others. Even if you have had a disagreement – work it out between the two of you. Sharing your story with others and trying to convince people you are right and your friend is wrong is not the correct approach to fixing the problem. You need to talk it out with your friend first. Friends don’t always agree, and sometimes you should agree to disagree. There isn’t always a right or wrong. This is especially true when it comes to feelings, likes, and dislikes. Always be ready to admit when you are wrong. At the same time, never rub your friend’s nose in her mistakes, and never tell him, “I told you so!” Be generous about it because you will get your turn at being wrong soon enough. Most importantly, treat your friend with respect and dignity. You can expect to receive the same treatment back. If you have questions or need advice email us and let us know. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
