20 Ways to Show Your Friend You Care
With International Friendship Week upon us, it’s the perfect time to think about what friendship really means.
Over the years, I’ve had many acquaintances, some good friends but only a handful of truly great friends.
I was never one to consider the people I partied with as great friends.
Instead, I found the people who were there to listen, understand and not pass judgement were the people I wanted to invest time in.
I’ve found true friends are those you laugh with, grow with and can be sad with as well.
When I was in my 20s, a friend gave me a gift that really blew me away.
I’m sure to her she didn’t think twice but I still think about it to this day.
I’m allergic to nuts.
So when it comes to receiving chocolates or candy, it can become tricky.
Over the years, I’ve received chocolates as presents, thank-you packages and Valentines.
However, all of those packages always contain chocolate with nuts.
Normally I had to figure out which ones had nut products in them and give away or throw away the rest.
Sometimes I just passed them on to the office because it was just too much of a pain to figure it out.
One summer, I invited several girlfriends to my family’s lake house for a girls’ vacation.
My friend Jenny arrived with a simple package of chocolate and mentioned that she had asked the clerk to specially make up the box so that there were no chocolates with nuts in them.
It was the first time anyone had ever done something like that.
Sure, it may have seemed like such a simple thing to her, but it really let me know she had thought of me and taken time to think about the gift.
It really hit home the importance of thinking about another and how the simplest of gestures can really mean something big.
This month, think about the friends in your life and how you let them know how much they mean to you.
It doesn’t have to be something big, just something thoughtful.
Simple Yet Thoughtful Ways to Say “I’m Glad You’re My Friend”
1. Invite them over for coffee and a chat. Today, we can easily get over scheduled. Not every gathering needs to be an event. Just spending time face to face can let them know you value them.
2. Show up with dinner when they post on Facebook that one of their kiddos is sick and they’re stuck at home. Don’t ask. Just do it.
3. Pick a book you’ve read that you’ll know they’ll love, inscribe a message and give it as a gift.
4. Mail her a photo of you two. You can easily turn a photo into a postcard (and you can even print them out at home).
5. Make a mixed CD. It can be for when she’s driving without the kids or, if she likes to work out, for when she’s working up a sweat.
6. Take their kids for the afternoon or find another way to help out.
7. Make a hand-made card. Or, if you’re not crafty, buy a card and add a heartfelt note. There doesn’t need to be an occasion.
8. Send a text if you see something that reminds you of them and tell them so. There’s no reason to just keep it to yourself.
9. Plan a “date night” with the girls. Ditch the family and have some one on one time without life’s daily distractions.
10. Send them a cup of coffee through the Internet with a Starbucks eCard.
11. Craft a gift and give it for absolutely no reason. It doesn’t have to be a holiday or birthday to give something. For example, if you’re an avid knitter, create a scarf in her favorite colors.
12. Surprise them with an outing to try something new. If they’ve been talking about wanting to do something but haven’t made it happen, make it happen for them!
13. If something is wrong, pick up the phone. Or better yet, pop on over if you live in the same neighborhood. Sometimes it can be too easy to write a note to say you’re sorry a beloved dog passed away if they posted on Facebook. Better you say it directly.
14. Call last minute to see if you can get together. I often find I need to schedule things. But sometimes, if you find you have a moment, give it a chance. Even if they can’t get together with you, they’ll know you were thinking of them.
15. Celebrate their accomplishments. If they start a new job, send flowers to their work. Something that goes beyond just saying congratulations.
16. Invite your friends to your holiday gathering. Holidays are all about family. But it’s important to remember that friends can be just as much a part of your family as those you grew up with.
17. Remember their birthday. Send an actual card or post a special card online. Taking just a small extra step lets them know you’re thinking of them. Just don’t post “happy birthday” on Facebook and be done with it.
18. Make extras. Baking banana bread? Make an extra loaf, wrap it in ribbon and deliver it to her front door.
19. Put your friend on your to-do list. If too much time has gone by without talking, put that on your action items for the day. It’ll keep you from letting another day slip by without reaching out.
20. Make a scrapbook of your friendship. Or make a page she can add to her own personal scrapbook.
Bonus: Be a consistent, loyal and caring friend every day. From really listening when she needs to talk to participating in her joys as well, you can show your friend you care every day.
These are great ideas! I love to have people over and your list has inspired me to invite those I call my friends over for just coffee and a good ole chat! That would be a perfect V-day gift and it will not cost me anything! 🙂
Absolutely! Sometimes we think getting together has to be an occasion of going out. Sometimes just getting together to chat is occasion enough 🙂
This is such a great list. I’m going to send this to a couple friends.
So glad it’s inspired you 🙂 Writing this reminded me I need to reach out to a couple of my own friends.
Some very good ideas here! My personality is INTJ (introverted, intuition, thinking, judgement) so I’m very logical and not especially emotional. Most other people ARE emotional, so I set a goal this year of being more aware of the needs of other people in my life. These ideas are a great starting point for me. Thanks for sharing them!
Nicole — I’m an INTJ as well! That’s why I’ve learned to make the effort in reaching out.
Hi Jenny – thanks for hosting! That candy kiss ring is just too cute – has to be my fave (although if I had little ones, I would so create the hot air balloon photo shoot – can’t imagine my teen would go for it tho’ 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!
Those are such sweet ideas to share with a friend!
I’m a big fan of printing photos and mailing them — you know, in the actual mail in a real paper card. It’s inexpensive for me (maybe $5 for a card, a photo or two, and a stamp), but thrilling for the recipient.
I agree! I actually have an app on my phone where I can choose a photo from a weekend and have it mailed directly as a postcard (for a price of course). So worth it, though 🙂
Those are great ideas! Friendships should be nurtured all the time and letting your friends know you care is as simple as picking up the phone and calling just to see how they’re doing.
Thanks. Sometimes we forget how easy it can be to reach out to a friend 🙂 Hope you connect with one this week.
I love these. It’s so important to think of the person you are giving the gift to. And even more important to let your friends know you care. Thanks for the wonderful ideas!
Hope I inspired you to reach out to a friend this week. Writing this post, I did just that!
Great ideas! I totally get why that extra bit of thought from your friend sticks out in your mind – just that little bit if thought that let’s your know they care. Thanks for sharing!
Glad to share. Even writing this reminded me there were a couple of people I needed to reach out to!
I adore my friends, but I know I’m terrible at showing them how much they mean to me. These are some great tips (and easy, too!), so even “bad” friends like me can show our affection!
What a great reminder to show the special people in our lives just how special they are! Thank you for sharing on the Makeovers & Motherhood Welcome Party Wednesday Link-Up! It is being featured this week!
Wow! Thanks for the feature 🙂
What a great, simple post! It’s so true. The little things go such a long way! I love the idea of sending a few photos. They make people smile.
Thank you so much for all of the wonderful suggestions. I see quite a few that I would like to give a try. As moms we tend to focus so much on our kids that we forget that our friends might need us too from time to time.
I agree! Which is actually why I wrote this up.
What a great list! I’m definitely going to refer back to this and get busy doing some of them. I am going to add some DIY ideas to yours and do a blog post too. Thanks. I will credit you…Blessings!
I love my friends so much. I need to be more focused on showing them how much I care. Great post !
A wonderful list of thoughtful suggestions and a reminder that we should always be more pleasant to those who are special in our lives than to those casual acquaintances who we probably will never see again.
Agreed. Put time in to those that really matter 🙂
It’s so sad that you had received so many boxes of chocolates over the year, and yet only that one friend was thoughtful enough to get one that you could actually enjoy!
I always try to be the thoughtful friend. I’m there when they need to vent, rant, or cry on my shoulder. And if I’m going to get a gift, I don’t get it for the sake of getting a gift, I put careful thought into selecting something I really think they will derive enjoyment from. Over the years I’ve discovered how few people know me really well. I only have two friends that give me amazingly thoughtful gifts, but a lot of friends who give me gifts that they themselves would enjoy.
I think this is a great list! It’s a wonderful balance between a lot of small things and a few bigger things that can show people you care! I certainly try to do all of the above whenever I can. Hopefully this list will inspire many! Thanks for sharing.
You’re right, Lalia. I’m always amazed that people give the gifts they wish they were getting. I believe in getting people gifts that they want but wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves (usually indulgent). Over the years, people have started calling them Jenny Gifts!
Yes! Precisely how I feel about it. There are so many lovely people in the world that always give to others, and do not give enough to themselves. So I love to “spoil” the amazing people in my life. A number of years ago, when I was still living in the same city as my mother, I bought her FOURTEEN gifts. I gave her a small gift once every day leading up to her birthday, always presenting it to her when I showed up at her workplace to walk her home. Then of course there was a bigger gift the day of her birthday. Apparently she must have told many of her co-workers all about it, because they all told me how thoughtful that was when they saw me afterwards!
I agree; this is a great list. I have some wonderful friends and have tried to be one but more by the calling and listening when possible. Right now my life is more overwhelming and I am grateful for the friends who are doing that for me. I am needing them right now.
You are lucky to have friends that are there for you when you need them…. a true reflection of what a great friend you have been to them I’m sure.
Great ideas…it is so important to always show people that you care. This is a nice reminder of the many ways that you can show friends the love.
These are all great tips. I admit, I’ve been a bad friend at times. I tend to get busy with my daily life and let other things slip. I think I need to call my BFF now. Thank you for the reminder.
-Stacey
There are no bad friends! We all get caught up in daily life sometimes. But I’m glad to inspire you to reach out to your friends. What matters is they know in the end they matter to us 🙂
What a great list, and it can really be applied to a lot of relationships.
Sarah’s Fare recently posted → Eggs in a Nest
I would definitely agree this can be used for all sorts of relationships. Many of these tips I use with my husband, too.
Thanks for the wonderful ideas! I’m definitely going to use some of these ideas. My best friend and I haven’t really been keeping in touch that much for the past few months due to our busy, busy and hectic schedules.
If there were only more hours in the day, right? So glad to inspire you to use some of these ideas to reach out to a friend.
Great ideas. Sometimes the simplest actions are the most meaningful. Stopping by from Blogelina Commentathon
Thank you so much for this list of ideas! It is amazing how some friends are just that amazing and worth our time to invest! You reminded me that I needed to set up a play date with my best friend (who has been my BFF since the 5th grade!). Thank you so much for sharing!
🙂 Makes me happy that my post inspired you to reach out. Have a great play date!
You certainly put together a fantastic list of ideas. While having done one or two, the thought of having a list will help me in the future. It is amazing when something little is done and how much it can mean. Thanks for reminding me to remember my friends!
It is true. Sometimes the smallest gestures on our part can mean the world to the person receiving it.
Great list! I have a friend who’s so thoughtful that way to – it just comes naturally to her. I am not that way so lists & ideas are helpful!
I have to think about things too… so the list is as much for me!
LOVE this post and these ideas. Gave me some inspiration for sure! Thanks for sharing!
This is an excellent post filled with so many great tips and suggestions! I love that you included the story of your friend – the way she went the extra mile to give you something that truly showed how much she cared. Gifts are wonderful, but when the giver really puts thought into the gift they give – that’s what makes it not just appreciated by the receiver, but also cherished! Thanks for this wonderful post!
I love your list, especially the book one.
It makes me a little homesick for my friends, though.
I think I need to work on my postal ideas (including implementing the postcard/photocard)…
Thank you!
Great ideas. I will have to implement some of them.
I love this list 🙂 I’m excited to do these for my friends 🙂
Wonderful list! Great friends are a treasure ~ I’ve never felt that more since I’ve moved away from home.
I love those ideas! Friends are so important and we need to take the time to care for our friendships even when life is busy. Thanks for sharing. I am pinning this.
Very nice ideas! Those ideas will really make someone’s day. Too often, people think getting together or staying in touch with someone, has to be a big event, but it doesn’t.
Aww these are all so nice! I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends. can’t wait to try out some of your ideas on them. Thank you for sharing!
Those are wonderful ideas! In this crazy busy world, it’s easy to get stuck in your own bubble. Time to reach out to friends
I always say that family doesn’t need to mean blood, that its about the unconditional love that you share with people, regardless of who they are, like an adoptive family consisting of friends who mean oh so much more to your heart and soul! This was a great post and I am really happy I had the chance to be introduced to your blog!
Welcome! I’m so glad you found me 🙂
While I moved across the country, I know I have friends, but I feel like I have to be invited/called to action because I’m burdening them.
Thank you for the thoughts and ideas.
I get that… you don’t want to intrude. What I’m always surprised by is they WANT you to call and reach out. 🙂
I’ve always had a hard time making friends. And when I do make friends, it seems they always expect me to be the only one putting in any effort. I guess that’s why I’m happy with having my husband as my best friend. He’s the only one who really “gets” me anyway lol.
My husband is one of the only people who “gets” me too. I feel like we’re all pulled in so many different directions that it’s easy for us to not make the effort for friends. But I’m always pleasantly surprised that when I do reach out, my friends are SO happy I did and wish they had done it sooner.
I love giving books that I think they’ll love.
Me, too! And I love getting books that people are into. I’ve discovered some amazing ones that I would have never read otherwise.
Good friends are hard time find. It only makes sense to treat the ones you have with love. Thank you for the list!