Category Archive

friendships

6 life lessons for introverts who love people-time

I am an outgoing introvert. Oxymoron, you say? Nope, you said wrong! To sum up, folks on this area of the intro-extroversion scale (ambiverts) need to have quality people time, just as much as we need to have quality no people time. I’ve done some research on this topic, primarily by feeling awkward at social commitments, just to give fellow people-time loving introverts these tips…

My family includes my “platonic wife”

Kira, the platonic wife in question, is sapiosexual, and we have known each other for about seven years; she and her heterosexual husband have been married for about two years. So why “platonic wife” instead of “best friend” or “really close friend”? Really it comes down to the fact that I consider her as important and as “legitimate” of a relationship as my relationships with my husband and partner.

Unexpected party favors: What should I do with the things guests forget at my house?

I’ve found myself with a growing collection of castaway sunglasses, casserole dishes, makeup, gifts from friends that were meant for other friends. What is the etiquette for storing/returning forgotten items? If a guest claims an item, but takes forever to come pick it up, how long should I keep it? If they live far away, am I obligated to ship it to them?

How do you forgive and forget?

How do you let go of the animosity or even hatred you feel toward a person who hurt you? What are some suggestions for forgiving people who have hurt you so you can move on with your life and feel more like a responsible adult and less like a petulant teenager with a grudge?

How kitty sweaters, virtual fires, and friends saved the day I had to work on Christmas day

Last Christmas was a lonely one for me. I was separated from my family and I had to work. My heart was broken. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. After my Christmas fate was sealed, I told my group of besties about how sad I was about missing my favorite part of Christmas for work. We then decided to have our own Christmas celebration after my shift was over. The name for our shindig was not original, but it meant the world to me: Friend Christmas.

Holiday gifts for your best friends and special lovers

Not quite sure what to get the most important people in your lives? I’m talking best friends, partners in crime and in life, and special lovers. I’ve teamed up my shopping brain with some of our sponsors to bring you some top choices in special gifts for special people…

How do you ask your friend to clean-up when you visit?

My best friend lives 5½ hours away and we love to visit. Every time we visit, though, the house is a complete disaster. I don’t know how to approach her about this because I am not comfortable staying there anymore unless it’s cleaned up. I love her like a sister, we’ve been friends for 12 years, and I don’t want to stop visiting. But I don’t want a fight because we have different priorities. Anyone have advice on how I can broach the possibly-sensitive question of asking her to clean up before I visit?

Friends are the family we get to choose for ourselves

There are a couple of clichés that get that way because they’re so damn true. Some that have been true for our family of two is that friends are the gods’ apology for families, friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and friends walk in when everyone else walks out. My patchwork quilt of family is mostly made of beautiful friendships, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.