In the Media – 17 Ways to Renew You in 2017 (Postmedia)
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Thinking of making New Year’s resolutions? You might also want to examine and renew your friendships. Writing for Postmedia Nework, a Canadian news syndicate, Joanne Richard came up with a list of 17 ways to renew yourself in 2017.
When it came to friendship, she checked in with the Friendship Doctor:
Hanging on to unrewarding friendships saps time away from cultivating new friendships, and from nurturing ones that might be more satisfying, says Irene S. Levine, PhD, psychologist and friendship expert.
Gradually wean yourself away from toxic friends by spending less time with them. Better to morph them into acquaintances than turn them into enemies.
Click here to see the entire Postmedia article, 17 Ways to Renew You in 2017. It appeared in a number of Sunday papers including the Toronto Sun, the Kingston Whig and Winnipeg Sun.
Category: IN THE MEDIA
I must say I enjoyed reading how you handled a difficult relationship.
Then to top if off, the relationship got better. It was inspiring.
I so agree with Irene Levine about weaning oneself off toxic friends – they really do sap time and energy, and not worth the bother.
On the other hand – friends you choose – but relatives you’re stuck with (!) and not so easy to get away from – gracefully and without stirring a hornet’s nest of disagreements.
In-laws are sometimes more difficult than friends, as you’re likely to meet them through your spouse or other relatives at any given time. There is one person like that in my life, that barbed me with her critical (and jealous) comments for about 16 years.
In the early days, she not only annoyed me intensely, but I was hurt by this, as I’d hoped we could’ve had a better relationship. But, then I thought, why get upset by this unfriendly attitude? So, I forgave her and thanked God we weren’t blood related – in my culture that would’ve been a great shame. (Scandinavians regard unfriendliness (without cause) and jealousy a severe mental problem – in Swedish ‘jealousy’ is translated to ‘svartsjuke’ = black sickness).
Psychologically I found it helpful that I wasn’t OBLIGED to be friendly towards her, but I made it my CHOICE. Somehow it seemed as if her claws had been clipped – she couldn’t get a grip, nothing railed me. Now, however, nearly twenty years on we get on much better – in fact, a couple of years back we spent a few days holidaying together – unheard of in the beginning of our strained relationship.