Supporting Friends

Sunday, some of my actor friends and teacher came to see me as Bottlebrush/Tweedle Dee in the Underbelly/Zach Theatre collaboration of ALICE IN WONDERLAND.  It's a theatre for young audiences show.  Often if adult friends don't have kids, they don't want to come...but my friends came and it meant the world to me.

When your friends support you, you feel empowered, loved, verified, and happy.   Even if your friends don't share the same interests or comprehend why you find joy in doing what you do, friends should still support you if you are pursuing "healthy" goals.  When you support your friends or colleagues, they will appreciate you,  others will notice your genuineness, and if you are a leader, teacher, or mentor you may notice people may feel more loyalty toward you.

You may ask, "How can I support friends?"  You can:

1.  Mentor them if you have similar interests or goals.

2.  Attend their lectures, sporting events, plays, readings, meetings etc.

3.  Offer to help with the practicalities, like babysitting if they have children or ailing relatives, making a delivery, loaning them clothes for an interview or presentation, or exercising with them if they are trying to become more active or lose weight

4.  Call or send encouraging notes, emails, or online messages.  Sometimes, you can't be physically present for your friends or colleagues, so encouraging words and messages can be important.

5.  Listen/talk.

6.  Help them network by spreading the word about their talents, goals, or events.

When you support your friends in a positive way, you are being socially engaged and  your friends/colleagues are socially engaged as well.   Studies show socially engaged people are more successful, happier, have better immune systems, and experience less grief.  So, thank you again to my friends and family who support me and all the positives you contribute to my life.