Friendship Month Is Here — Let's Reconnect

Sharing a Letter from our Founder & Chairman

Please Click Here to Manage Your Preferences or Unsubscribe Friendships shape us in ways few other relationships can. Our friends cheer us on in life's big moments and lift us up when times get hard. They make life richer and more meaningful. But if we're not careful, friendships can start to slip away without us even realizing it. It usually doesn't happen all at once. A friend you used to talk to weekly becomes someone you think about but don't reach out to. That regular coffee date turns into a maybe-next-month one. You can blame this on life getting busy with work, family, and responsibilities, but before you know it, the connection fades. Most friendships don't end with a bang but a whimper. And when they do, we lose not only a companion but also a part of ourselves, including the shared history and the feeling of being known and understood. The good news is that friendships do not require grand gestures to survive. Like flowers, friendships flourish with just a little attention. A quick message, a phone call, or a small "just because" surprise is all it takes to rekindle a connection. On July 30, the world will mark the 14th annual International Day of Friendship. Proclaimed by the United Nations in 2011, this day is to honor the ties that bind us. But I think one day isn't enough. That's why we're devoting the entire month to celebrating friendship in all its beauty and depth. And we're starting Friendship Month with the simplest, most powerful idea of all: showing up for the friends we already have. Overcoming the friendship recession Why does this focus on friendship matter? Because we're living through what researchers now call a friendship recession, and it's impacting our health. According to a 2021 study, only 13% of Americans say they have 10 or more close friends, which is a steep drop from past generations. Meanwhile, loneliness is on the rise. We're socializing less and spending more time in front of screens than with each other. Add in political division, relentless work demands, and the lingering effects of the pandemic, and it's no wonder many of us feel more isolated than ever. This isn't just sad — it's dangerous. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called loneliness a public health crisis, with risks as serious as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It increases the chances of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and premature death. Loneliness is also self-perpetuating. As social scientist John Cacioppo explained, feeling disconnected can rewire our brains and make us more sensitive to rejection and less likely to reach out. That's why even a single text or small gesture can interrupt that feedback loop and make a real difference. Use your power of connection! A friendship challenge So here's a challenge for Friendship Month: Scroll through your contacts, find someone you've lost touch with, and send a simple message: "You popped into my mind — let's catch up next week." I'd love to hear how it works and what tips you might have for rekindling relationships. At the end of the month, I'll share a few reflections from the Celebrations Pulse community. Whether it's a reunion, a message out of the blue, or a card that arrived just when you needed it, your story may inspire others to reach out, too. Here's to keeping friendships alive, one thoughtful connection at a time. All the best, Jim Aging isn't a decline, it's an opportunity. In this week's Power & Impact, Fortune magazine health and wellness reporter Alexa Mikhail shares her journey from a health-conscious upbringing to leading global health coverage for Fortune and the Gates Foundation. We discuss how longevity, social connection, and conscious living are reshaping how we think about aging, with insights into the rising longevity economy and the growing importance of community over supplements. Alexa also opens up about her own wellness routines and how today's wellness movement is grounded in something deeper. If you're curious about what it really takes to live a longer, more fulfilling life, this episode is your starting point. And share your tips for how you care for yourself. Email me at podcasts@celebrations.com. It's been six months… time for a resolution check-in What were you doing at exactly noon on Wednesday, July 2? If you're like most people (myself included), you probably weren't staring at a clock, marveling at the fact that the year had reached its halfway mark. But it did. Right then, we hit the midpoint of 2025: 182.5 days behind us, 182.5 still to go. Six months ago, many of us greeted the new year with the usual mix of optimism and ambition. We set resolutions, scribbled down goals, maybe even bought a new planner. So how's it going? Now's a great moment to pause and reflect. What's working? What's gotten lost in the shuffle? What still matters to you — and what might need a little more attention? More time with family? A healthier routine? Picking that guitar back up or simply being more present? The good news is you still have time. We've got just as much runway ahead as we've left behind. This is your permission slip to pivot, recommit, completely restart, or simply begin. Click on the button below to share your progress report for an upcoming edition of the Celebrations Pulse. Let's use this midpoint as a gentle nudge to act with intention. Use your power to shape the rest of your year. Be deliberate with your time, your energy, your presence. That's where the real magic happens. Small steps, taken consistently, lead to big changes. And one more thing: Go ahead and mark July 2 on next year's calendar. You might not throw a party for the halfway point of 2026, but it's always worth celebrating (perhaps with half a cake?!) the progress you've made and the possibilities still ahead. Related articles that caught my eye Written by our Founder and Chairman, our Celebrations Pulse Letters aim to engage with our community. From sharing stories to welcoming your ideas, we want to help you to express, connect, and celebrate the important people in your life. View as webpage This email was sent by: 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. Two Jericho Plaza Suite 200 Jericho, NY, 11753, USA Manage Email Preferences | Terms & Conditions | Unsubscribe from Pulse Newsletter