You have been losing weight by watching sugar and carbohydrates, eating less meat, moving, praying and journaling on the Give-Back Diet for 37 days.  Getting help with weight loss is also about helping others; making connections with new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

Today, I encourage you to reach out and contact an old friend.  Take time to kindle the old friendship: send an email or letter, reconnect via a social networking site, or pick up the phone.

Ask your friend about their life, their hopes and dreams, projects, their children, spouse, other friends.  Show some interest and empathy.  Doing this helps you put your problems into perspective, because it’s about putting yourself aside.

I had lunch with an old friend yesterday.  It was great to catch up – it had been a very long time.  It turns out we have many similarities.   He had said something to me at a party years ago, that I thought was very rude and quite offensive, but I was happy to have forgotten about it while we were having lunch.  After, as I was walking home (my daily exercise!) I remembered that awful embarrassing moment, but now had so many good memories associated with my friend, it was easy to let the hurt go and chalk it up to him probably having just a bad day, years ago.  I wish I hadn’t let it come between us.   It’s no longer going to.

Also, having lost a couple of really good friends recently, I’m reminded that we don’t last forever, and there’s no time like the present to rekindle friendships.  They’re very important.  Once a friend is gone, they’re truly no longer around to call, or email.

Do you have a long-lost friend, or someone you’ve not spoken to for years?  Tell us about them in the comment box below.  Share the friendship.

HERE’S A LIST OF EVERY DAY OF THE “GIVE-BACK DIET.”  START TODAY!