This week’s Get Fabulous challenge is to call an old friend. Someone that you’ve thought about lots but haven’t spoken to in so long you can’t even remember when or where it was. Invite them over, break out the Connect Four, the Sixteen Candles VHS, and the Salt’n’Pepa cassette and enjoy your stroll down memory lane.
Why this rocks:
- Be carefree
Remember those days when your biggest struggle was if you were more into the Backstreet Boys or ‘N Sync (and let’s be serious for a second, yes JT always was a boo but please BSB had the better songs, moves and looks). No utilities to be paid, no laundry to be made and no boss to worry about. Reconnecting with your old friend will get you right into that carefree zone again and let you leave all the troubles behind.
- Rediscover your talents
Let your old friend remind you of your talents and strengths. Why did they love to be around you back in the days, what did they always admire about you, why were they proud to call themselves your friend? Be ready to get the credit you may be robbing yourself of while in the funk. Let the self-doubt and criticism go for a second and really listen. For me the biggest motivation to get out of my breakup funk was when a high school friend told me she always thought my positive energy and compassion were my biggest strengths and she’d hope I’ll never lose it as very few people can have this encouraging and calming effect on others. Now, did I really want to lose this power over a guy? I didn’t and neither should you.
- Take on a new perspective
Your lives have diverged, you took on other challenges and set other priorities. While you might have gone all in to climb the corporate ladder, your old friend might have gone for the house, 2 kids and a dog life with a loving husband. And while you might not have understood her choices then and (be honest with yourself here) might have judged her for it, it’s important to be open to a different perspective for a second. How is she making decisions, how is she setting priorities, what are her motivations, how would she handle your drama. Remember The Blind Men and the Elephant? While you can partly be right, you will stay in the wrong if you keep your mind closed!
Bonus Challenge: Call up your entire gang from first grade and organize a reunion at your place!
Just Remember…While making the first step might be hard, rejection is an option and even awkwardness might be in the air for a split moment, the boost in self-confidence, the deep laughter and joyful nostalgia certainly make up for it. And besides, lipsyncing some old jams by itself is reason enough to call your old lipsync partner in crime! Go do it girl!
