Friendship Skills

Friendship is a skill, not just luck. The friends you choose — and the kind of friend you become — shape how safe, supported, and seen you feel every day. Healthy friendships are built on trust, respect, honesty, kindness, and showing up.

What Healthy Friends Do

Real friends listen without making fun. They respect your feelings and your no. They show up — not only when it is easy, but also when life is hard. They tell the truth kindly, and they keep small secrets safe.

• Listen — let you finish your sentence.
• Respect — your time, body, no, and ideas.
• Show up — not only when convenient.
• Honesty — kind, not cruel.
• Repair — apologize after a mistake.

Not All Friendships Are Equal

Some friendships make you feel lighter; others leave you feeling small. Pay attention to flags. Green flags show a friendship is healthy. Yellow flags say slow down and talk about it. Red flags mean a boundary is needed — and sometimes distance.

• Green flag: we can disagree without it being a war.
• Yellow flag: teasing that sometimes goes too far.
• Red flag: threats, control, or constant gossip.

How to Repair a Small Rupture

1. Notice — name the moment that hurt.
2. Apologize — short, specific, no excuses.
3. Listen — let the other person say how it felt.
4. Change — do the small thing differently next time.