Notice that this step comes after apologizing. Not only do you need to forgive a friend that you hope to continue having a relationship with, you need to forgive them even if they don’t apologize. If you and a friend are not fully able to resolve an issue, you still may be able to have an amicable friendship.  Know that there are learning and growing opportunities for both individuals in every friendship. Respecting one another can help you both find the positive in the relationship you had before and the relationship you will have moving forward. If you commit to getting together, immediately act on it by making specific plans. Talk together about what days or evenings you have free in the coming week and at least settle on a day and time to meet.    If the day comes and you’re not as free as you’d hoped, compromise.  Avoid rescheduling if possible; Instead of lunch, meet for coffee. If you’re unable to meet up, make specific plans again.  If your friend invites you out, go!  There is no quicker way to let a friendship fall by the wayside than continually turning down opportunities to spend time together. Know that even when a friendship is rekindled, especially after a long period of time, it will likely not feel exactly as it had before. Even if it’s harder to share your lives with one another, you can still value each other’s friendship – you may just have to accept the fact that you won’t get as much time together as you’d like. Be aware that your hopes or expectations for reconnecting with a friend may be different than their expectations, even if they’re willing to meet.  If you meet, but a rekindling of your friendship seems unlikely, leave with the knowledge that you both still respect each other enough to reach out to one another again in the future. In the meantime, don’t allow yourself to be stressed about a situation that is out of your control. Nor will every friendship stay the same. For that matter, no friendship will ever be perfect. More importantly, the context of your relationships with other human beings will change, perhaps out of the blue.    Don’t hold it against your friends when they change.  Accept them as they are now, just as you had accepted them when you’d been closer.   Understand the difference between types of friendships. In the course of your life, you will have relationships that amount to acquaintances, casual friendships, and close friendships. Put your time and effort into nurturing relationships with those people who value their time with you, respect your perspective, and encourage you to grow in whatever capacity you choose.
سامح. أوفِ بوعودك فيما يخص الاتفاقات. امنح أصدقائك مساحة. فكر فيما إن كان إنعاش الصداقة ما يزال محتملاً. اعلم أنه ليست كل الصداقات متماثلة.