"Texas Friendship Day" (8-2-09) Ideas on How to Become or Remain a Personal Friend for Someone

As Texans throughout our state prepare to celebrate Texas Friendship Day on Sunday, August 2, 2009, I would like to offer a few suggestions on how you can protect your own credibility as a prospective or current friend for another person.

Official information about the 2009 "Texas Friendship Day" resolution (H.R. 3132, authored by State Rep. Dawnna Dukes) that was approved by the Texas House of Representatives on the final day of the regular session this year, can be found at either or both of the following links:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HR03132F.htm

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HR3132

The following are my personal suggestions on how you can help to convey to another person your own enthusiastic desire to either become or remain a mutual-consent personal friend for that individual:

(1) You might include that individual in your list of persons whom you invite to social parties you are hosting.

(2) You coud consistently return phone call messages from that individual.

(3) You could send prompt and polite reply messages in response to E-mail letters you receive from that individual.

(4) You might make a point of smiling while talking with that individual in person.

(5) You can strive to be helpful to that individual, such as by offering that person constructive and polite ideas or suggestions on how that person could improve his quality of life or his financial earnings capacity.

(6) You could express interest in the medical health of that individual, which conveys your devotion to that individual having the best possible medical health and medical longevity or lifespan.

(7) You can offer sincere and honest words of praise to that individual that refer to a variety of traits you admire that you have observed in that individual.

(8) You might invite that individual to breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

(9) You could inquire about that individual's favorite hobbies or pastimes. You can then keep that in mind if you ever happen to learn about a cultural event in town that relates to a favorite hobby or pastime of that individual. You can then share that information with that individual.

(10) You could refrain from using sarcasm or profanity, or from verbalizing threats, in your comments to or written communications addressed to that individual. This will convey a friendly style toward himself.

(11) You could pose questions to that individual which convey an interest in his values, beliefs, and his platonic (non-sexual) passions as a human being. If he adores the foreign nation of Sweden, for instance, you can ask him if he has identified a favorite Scandinavian-style dish from the menu offerings of any of the restaurants in your city or town or geographical area. If so, you could invite him to join you for a meal inside that restaurant.