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Last Updated on September 20, 2021
Having friends is a great thing, as it helps to have people with whom you can share good times and also help each other when going through difficult situations. A divorce is one such situation, and so if you have a friend who is going through it, it’s good to step up and give them some help. If you’re wondering just how you could do so, have a look at the five tips below, and find something that you believe would work.
Schedule a Spa or Salon Day With Them
There’s something uplifting about a spa or salon visit, so if your friend is up for it, schedule one with them. The feeling of looking good will definitely help them feel good as well, but make sure they want to go rather than pushing them to do something they would rather not. At the moment, salons account for 95% of the hair market in the U.S., which is a significant amount. If you have a favorite salon that you feel meets all your needs, recommend it to them and if they respond positively, set a date.
Listen to Them
People going through a divorce will often have a lot to say while trying to come to terms with the situation. The best thing you can do is to offer a listening ear to them. Avoid judging and adding negative input, especially when they speak negatively of their former spouse. This is because they may feel differently the next day than they did today, and if they remember something you said that did not sit well with them, they may not be comfortable with having you as a confidant anymore.
Gift Them Little Things to Cheer Them up
Since you know your friends well, you probably know what they like. Use this information to gift them with meaningful little things to cheer them up. These could be concert tickets, a meal they enjoy, or even a new outfit or pair of shoes. You may even go all out and get them a custom gift like an embroidered patch with a logo or image that means something to them. These are effectively used by businesses to market their corporate identity, but you can have one made especially for your friend, bearing no official associations.
Hang Around Even After the Event
Don’t just provide company immediately after the event, but aim to stay close for the rest of the time. This is because your friend will likely be surrounded by people immediately after the event, but end up lonely after some time passes and people assume that they’re now okay. Loneliness can strike at any moment, re-igniting the grief of the divorce. They may feel awkward reaching out to people long after it has happened, but it will be easy to share their emotions with you and feel better if you keep the lines of communication open and stay close at all times.
Be a Shoulder to Cry On
Most of the time, people going through a divorce have their emotions in raw form, and so they need someone they can vent to readily. Be this person for your friend, and understand that they can get overwhelmed at any time and need some help. Don’t give them the impression that you’re tired of them or don’t have the time, as this will just cause them to pull back and feel completely alone, especially if they don’t have many friends. With one divorce happening roughly every 36 seconds, it’s possible to have more than one of your friends going through it, making it harder to find someone to help them through the grief. Do your best to offer them comfort, and they will be glad they have you as a friend.
While some situations are hard to go through, they can be made easier by sharing them with friends and family. Be there for your friends whenever they need you, and build a strong bond with them that will stand the test of time.