Who Will You Call When the Worst Happens?

"Like many married couples, Tom and I depended heavily on each other for all things. He was my love, my buddy, my helpmate, my housemate, my Saturday night date, and my weeknight companion. As an introvert with limited need for social contact, I was satisfied to just hang with Tom, and so friendships faded in importance."

"I decided then that my friendship situation was unacceptable and began a campaign to intentionally develop and nurture friendships. I reconnected with people I'd neglected and decided what acquaintances to upgrade. I reached out to people and made plans that might or might not include Tom. I said yes when people invited me to do things."

A woman realized the critical importance of friendship when her husband failed to come home unexpectedly and she had no one to call for support. She recognized that as a couple, she and her husband had become each other's primary source of companionship, allowing friendships to fade into mere acquaintances. This frightening moment prompted her to deliberately invest time and energy into developing and nurturing friendships by reconnecting with neglected contacts, upgrading acquaintances, and saying yes to social invitations. Over several years, she built multiple close friendships. This proactive approach to friendship proved invaluable when a genuine crisis eventually occurred, demonstrating that intentional friendship investment provides essential support during life's most difficult moments.

Read at Psychology Today