Even though my dream came true last Tuesday, I'm an introvert prone to anxiety and have been so grateful for the support of my dear circle during this crazy time! Some things my friends have done for me that I will try to remember to do for others during their big life moments:
1. Start texts and emails with “No need to respond to this” or “This isn’t urgent.” Just a nice little thing to add that takes off some (self-induced) pressure.
2. Send gifts to a hotel room! WHY didn’t I know about this amazing friendship trick!!?! After returning to my hotel from my event in DC, one friend had sent a cocktail and another sent desserts. It made me feel SO celebrated. I now want to do it for everyone, even strangers!
3. Say, “We know you’re grateful. We are here to listen to the other emotions.” There’s a lot of (self-induced) pressure to feel grateful every minute during an exciting time, but big events bring up big feelings! It’s nice to be reminded that friends are there for ALL of it.
4. When friends couldn't make an event, I really appreciated when they sent a sweet note, or even asked ahead of time, “How important is it that I’m there?” RSVPing “no” is so hard and I have to do it a lot, so these thoughtful gestures helped me be a better guest in the future.
5. Reassure “You’re being a good friend.” It’s hard to be a good friend when you’re feeling stretched thin, and the guilt about it adds another layer of anxiety. It feels so good to hear these words when you’re not feeling very present to your loved ones—even if it’s a lie :)
