6:49 AM
Have a friend who was used to being regularly showered by your personal texts but of late just receives forwards at an odd hour of the day? Do you feel uncomfortable sharing the same space with a friend who once was allowed to share everything from your clothes to your crush? Is there someone who was your partner-in-crime at every bitching session but is now the target of most of them? You might be affected by the 'Lose-a-friend-soon' phenomenon. Here are some tips to rekindle that lost friendship:
CONTEMPLATE ON THE PRICE YOU PAY:
A major step before reviving a failed friendship is to truly know whether you are open to maintaining a friendship that is faltering. You have to consider whether rebonding once again is worth it. Also remember that it's alright to end any relationship if it costs you a transformation of your individuality and principles. So review your mind and heart’s status; if it gives you a green signal, there's no looking back.
DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE:
The moment you are sure that your friendship needs a revival, learn about what went wrong. It is human to put the other person at fault. But that just might not be true always. If you were at fault, be bold to accept it and apologise for the same. Investigate the core of your separation as friends so that you can avoid the same once you get back on track.
FORGIVE AND FORGET:
If your friend was the reason why your friendship suffered a blow, don't tip the scales in your favour. In fact, forgive for a change. The key to happy living is to move on with no regrets and none to blame.
RESUME CONTACT WITH FRIENDS:
Once you have made peace with yourself, make peace with your friend. Remember, though you live in the dot com era, it is best you forget all your gadgets at this point and have a heart to heart, face to face conversation with your friend. Re-establish the bond over a cup of coffee or a slice of pizza. Make sure you communicate how much you miss the times you spent with each other. A not-so expensive gift would not be cheesy but might just rekindle the friendship instantaneously. Avoid any talk on past issues. Leave that bit for a day when everything is picture perfect between the two of you.
All said and done, remember that friendship is at its best when everybody bonded in it is honest. One needs to realize that friendship, if true, is not fragile. The mantra of maintaining friendship is to be a good friend and bring out the best in a friend.
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY FRIENDSHIP:
Once you have made an effort to rejoin the torn pieces together, remember to be careful. Save your friendship from any form of negative change, betrayal, regret or neglect. Once these abstract factors come into play, friendship tends to trail the invisible path of destruction. Just make sure you be yourself and don’t ask for unnecessary changes from your friend. Have candid, mature discussions once in a while and at that point be open to your friend.
