Treasure your Tribe!

This article is part of our Small Steps Create Big Change to your Health and Wellness Series.

Whether we’re eight or eighty, we all know that having a squad of ‘ride or die' friends is right up there in importance with good health and financial security.

Friendship and connection play a crucial role in our lives, contributing to our overall well-being and happiness. Friends are more than someone to get coffee with-they provide emotional support, enable personal growth, and give us a sense of belonging.

Ever heard of the Blue Zones? The inhabitants of these five areas in the world have the longest living populations. They have nine commonalities that are responsible for their longer life spans. One of these nine is called the ‘Right Tribe.’ It means having groups of friends that they commit to for life. And the people gather together in the evenings to visit and play games. They invest in each other. Community creates longevity; loneliness and isolation lead to depression and decreased function.

The Midlife Friend Connection

Friendships are just as important in midlife as they were in high school. And the odds are better at having more authentic ones at this stage. I am here to report from experience that you can make BFFs in your 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. 

Need some more friends in your sphere? Read this article.

Healthy Friend Hack: Be the friend you want to have.

This is the golden rule of friendship. But it’s the hardest one to follow. 

We are hardwired to put our needs first. But the key to making and keeping good friends is to put ourselves in somebody else’s Jimmy Choos. Or in my case, orthotic Hokas.

Listen, you don’t have to pour out all your time and soul if you can’t give that right now– a text can make a difference for someone. “Hey friend! Just thinking about you today and wanted to see how things are going.”

Don’t put a timer on a response. Don’t even expect one. You’re not giving to get — you’re giving to care. A small “note” to someone to let them know that they are on your mind is like the feeling the sun gives when it comes out from behind the clouds and melts the chill. 

And if your pitcher does happen to be full some days, go ahead and pour out: give the compliment, drop off the magazine and chocolate bar, make the date.

You might feel worthless to one person, but you are priceless to another. Don’t forget your worth. Spend your time with those who value you.