Did you make any New Year’s resolutions for 2010?

Resolve to lose weight and get healthy? Quit smoking or other bad habits? Commit to reading more or learning a new skill?

Many of the most common New Years resolutions are based on our self-reservation and happiness. We have a general need to live a good, healthy, happy life – right?

Female friendship makes women healthier, happier, less stressed, live longer and feel more beautiful. Why not resolve to be a better friend in 2010 and reap those benefits?! Here’s a few ideas for resolving to be the kind of  friend you’d love to have:

1. Make a commitment to remember your girlfriend’s birthdays. A few years ago I was taping a show in Nashville on my birthday. A few minutes before I went on air, I got a phone call from a girlfriend (Thanks Carole!). Her remembering my birthday made me feel special and loved. It’s a pretty simple thing to do – just keep your calendar up to date on birthdays, check Facebook for upcoming friend’s birthdays and make the call or send a card!

2. Create a tradition of getting together with your friends. Start a book club, gourmet girlfriends get-together, knitting group or walking ritual with your girlfriends. Find friends who have a common interest or just want to find an excuse to get together and get the ‘ball rolling.’ Define some guidelines (types of books/movies/restaurants, how often you get together, where to meet, etc.) and just do it! You’ll have a fun, friend-filled year!

3. Can’t get together IRL? Create a virtual friendship connection. Every Friday a couple of my girlfriends and I update each other on our lives. This simple email keeps us in touch and makes me feel like they’re nearby no matter where they live. Have a group of friends from college or previous coworkers who you don’t want to lose touch with? Start an email group. Or create a Facebook or Twitter ritual where you share updates on a regular basis. Old, new or virtual friends are wonderful friends with whom to share your life too so make them feel as special as their friendship is to you!

4. Surprise your friends with thoughtful cards or calls - for no reason at all. When a girlfriend crosses your mind, make a commitment to drop her a line (email or card) or call her. Find silly reasons to call, connect or celebrate. Stock up on cards that express your friendship and totally make her day. If you know she stressed or going through a tough time, drop off (or send) a fun surprise.

5. Resolve to help each other meet your New Years resolutions. Want to lose weight? Find other friends who want to do the same and encourage and support each other. Resolve to run a marathon in 2010? Start training with your friends. Want 2010 to be the year you find a new job, learn a new language or take up weight lifting? The best way to successfully reach your dreams is to reach for them with your friends. Find girlfriends with common goals and go for it!

6. Make 2010 the year you become a better friend. Make a commitment to listen more and gossip less. Commit to going out of your way for a friend like giving her grace when you disagree or helping her reach her dreams. Keep a friendship journal to record all the great memories, girlfriend gratitude and life lessons from 2010. Take pictures and create a scrapbook of your friends. Practice the golden rule of friendships – treat your friends like you’d love to be treated. You’ll have a wonderful new year!

What other friendship resolutions are you making for New Years 2010? Share and inspire!

p.s. Here are some common resolutions and helpful information for achieving them.

Tags: 2010, be a better friend, female friendship, lose weight, New Year Resolution, new years, quit smoking, Resolutions

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at 4:27 pm and is filed under Be a Better FRIEND. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.