FAQ
What are the upcoming friendship classes and events?
Please visit the classes page.
Do I really need friends?
You do! I do! According to an 85-year study at Harvard, the number one key to happiness is not diet exercise, or career success. It's positive social relationships. It's friendship.
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Lacking social connection increases premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day
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Having strong social relationships lowers mortality risk by about 50%
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Quality relationships are the #1 predictor of happiness and health
Can I learn how to make friends?
Yes! You already have lots of friend-making skills. But skills can definitely be developed and honed through learning about communication, mutuality, generosity, authenticity and vulnerability. There are many techniques that make cultivating friendships easier and more enjoyable. And being with a cohort of people in a class provides strong support and motivation/intention for building friendships.
I already have friends. Do I need to take a class?
Great! And yes! Classes are largely about turning acquaintances into friends, friends into good friends, and good friends into great friends. We expect romantic relationship to deepen and grow over time. Why shouldn't friendships be the same? The deeper our friendships, the more we will get out of them.
What makes you the friendship expert?
Shoot, I was hoping you weren't going to ask that :) But good question. I've been consuming every book, article and podcast on friendship that I can get my hands on for years. I've taught friendship classes at UC Berkeley, Stanford Continuing Studies, and Piedmont Adult School. I'm constantly updating my curriculum with research-based findings and techniques on cultivating friendship.
In my classes, students also learn as much from each other as from me. They create and implement weekly friend plans in their lives and return to the class to share what worked, what didn't, and what's next. We all support each other in our mutual desire to improve our friendships and ultimately our lives. It's great.
According to an 85-year study at Harvard, the number one key to happiness is not diet exercise, or career success. It's positive social relationships. It's friendship.
-
Lacking social connection increases premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day
-
Having strong social relationships lowers mortality risk by about 50%
-
Quality relationships are the #1 predictor of happiness and health