They get us through rough patches, celebrate our wins, and cheer for our milestones and accomplishments. They slice cheesecakes in the middle of the night and give us a fork and their shoulder. And, of course, they never count calories!
So, take advantage of this year’s International Day of Friendship and check out these ideas to remind your friends they are appreciated.
Free and easy
- The easiest way to acknowledge friends is to call, text or send a quick email. Take a few minutes and compose something original and sweet. If you can’t find the right sentence, consider a meaningful quote from literature. For example, Aristotle wrote: “The antidote for 50 enemies is one friend.”
- Write an old-fashioned letter, with pen and paper, filled with memories and gratitude. Hand-deliver or send it via snail mail. Help them remember how good it feels to get correspondence from someone who took the time to pen it themselves. They’ll be flattered by the time you dedicate to them.
- Give to your community. Spending time together with a friend is always special no matter what you are doing. Share the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from supporting the community with the ones you love. Use sites like volunteermatch.org or justserve.org to find the best opportunities near you.
Caring and crafting
- It’s hard to beat a homemade cheesecake — or any baked goods for that matter — but summer isn’t always the best time for using a hot oven. Satisfy your sweet tooth together by making some refreshingly cool desserts! For some, fresh-made sweet tea or lemonade is the best cure for a hot day. What about ice cream? Making some at home sounds complicated, but there are tons of easy-to-make ice cream recipes out there. Find what cools you down and satisfy your cravings at the same time!
- Dress up an old mason jar. Cut out 25 little paper scrolls and handwrite things you love about your BFF. Remind them how the two of you became friends, describe your favorite thing about them or write a silly inside joke! Then tell your bestie to unroll a scroll when they’re feeling down or need a pick-me-up.
- Make a handmade card and gift it with love! Print off pictures of the two of you together to stick inside. Fill the card with all of your favorite quotes from movies, TV shows or books the two of you have read. Leave them a note to let them know just how much they mean to you and be sure to sign the card.
Spend a little
- Organize a gift package of things you know your friend will love. Coffee beans, handmade crafts, a new book or some chocolates are all fun additions! Next, add their favorite Scentsy products. Scentsy Car Bars, Fragrance Flowers or Buddy Clips are great places to start. Top the whole thing off with a handwritten note to let them know just how much you appreciate them.
- Summer flowers are blooming strong, so why not put together a custom floral arrangement from store-bought flowers or your garden. Then, find a fun vase to bring the whole bouquet together. Fresh flowers will always shout, “I appreciate you!”
- The best thing you can give any friend is your time. It’s the most precious thing we have to share! Take a walk in a nearby park and enjoy the weather. Head to a lake or the beach and soak in the sun (just don’t forget sunscreen). Explore a new part of the city and try a restaurant you’ve never been to before. And remember, your friends are there for you every day of the year, so use this time to commit to spending more days together with your dear friends in the coming year.
What are your favorite summer activities to share with your friends? Who do you want to shout out? Let us know in the comments!
