Signs a friendship is over...
and the kindest way to let them go
Few things feel better than having a catch-up with a
girlfriend. However, sometimes it can feel like a chore.
“In your heart of hearts, you know when that’s happening,”
says Carole Ann. “When you used to meet up, you’d have
such giggles – now it seems ploddy and hard work.”
Rather than severing ties, Carole Ann suggests letting the
friendship drop down a rung so it’s conducted more via
social media than face-to-face. “It’s one of the great joys
of social media that you can remain vaguely in touch,
even if your lives have veered off in different directions.”
Famous friends
It’s a love thIng...Keeping your
Friendships alive
Carole Ann recommends these
strategies to keep the closeness:Get tHe dIAry out I am a great
believer in checking the next three to
four weeks and making firm arrangements
to spend time with the friends who
matter. Faraway friends will need more
advance planning if you are to get
together at least once or twice a year.FIre oFF A quICk messAGe
It only takes a moment to send a
text message asking, “How did your
tests go?” or, “Feeling OK about the
interview?” It’s often more convenient
than calling and it still shows you care.relIsH dIversIty I catch up with
one friend as we wander around Kew
Gardens, then there’s the Prosecco
friend, the one I’m likely to download
to, the one who’s a chef and loves to
try out her dishes... everyone brings
something different and the way we
enjoy each other’s company differs too.HAd A FAllout? It can be terribly
hurtful if a friend has gone cold on
you. There’s a sense of grief, almost
like a bereavement. If you have shared
confidences, there can be a loss of
trust too. Meet for coffee and try to
find out what’s going on – I’m a real
believer in holding out the olive
branch if the friendship really matters.
If it seems unfixable, focus instead
on other connections that bring
positivity to your life.HollyWilloughby
andPhillipschofield
Thisinseparablepair
gotoshowyoucanbe
friendswitha man. w&hCamerondiazand
drewBarrymore
Theystarredas
Charlie’sAngels
buthavebeen
soulmatessince
theirteens.Princess diana and
sarah Ferguson Prone
to fallouts, but best
buddies throughout
their royal marriages.JenniferAnistonand
CourteneyCoxThe
lastepisodeofFriends
airedin 2004 – and
theyarestillclosenow.elizabeth
Hurley and
Hugh Grant
On Instagram
Elizabeth said
recently: “Happy
birthday to my
best friend
for 30 years.”woman&home IT’S All ABOuT YOu! 63