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The Friendship Habit

Sometimes You Need a Good Cry

Published about 8 hours ago • 2 min read

Say Yes to the Thing That Isn't Supposed to Be "Fun"

Hey Reader,
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👥 The Friend

Every year, our friends Danielle and Sean invite us to a gala for Reverse Rett, an organization fighting to cure Rett syndrome, a devastating neurological disorder that affects Danielle's sister.

And every year, I cry.

I know what's coming. I put on a suit, have a cocktail, catch up with friends, and then spend part of the evening trying not to lose it in front of a few hundred people.

But this year hit differently.

They played a heartbreaking video of young girls being robbed of the childhoods they deserve by a disease that can take away their ability to speak, walk, and play.

And then some of those girls came onstage with their families.

Watching this for the first time since becoming a dad to two little boys, I was a complete mess. I couldn't stop thinking about all the ordinary childhood moments we take for granted.

And yet, it was one of the best nights I've had in a long time.

I ran into old friends, heard about engagements and new babies, and had some great conversations with people I don't see nearly enough.

Hundreds of people coming together for something that mattered.

We spend so much time filling our calendars with fun things. Dinners, concerts, parties, weekends away.

But we sometimes forget how good it feels to do something meaningful, especially alongside people we care about.

Fun is great. Meaningful is a different kind of great. And sometimes you get both.

I'm incredibly proud of Danielle and Sean and all the families we met. And there's genuine reason for hope. Reverse Rett is helping fund promising research, including gene therapies in clinical trials, largely through private donations.

Please take a minute to visit Reverse Rett. Better yet, consider supporting their work.

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🛠️ The Fix

Say yes to the thing that isn't supposed to be "fun."

The fundraiser. The charity event. The cause your friend cares deeply about. The thing you'd probably never put on your calendar otherwise.

Go anyway.

You might reconnect with an old friend, learn something important, or discover how good it feels to be part of something bigger than yourself.

And you might just have one of the best nights of your year. Even if you don't, you'll be glad you showed up.

🎁 The Reco

Wanted to keep this part light this week. My wife has a new favorite cocktail, which means I now have a new favorite cocktail. Marriage!

It's called a Negroni Sbagliato. Basically a Negroni with a splash of bubbles.

Sbagliato means "mistaken" in Italian. Legend has it a bartender accidentally grabbed sparkling wine instead of gin.

Anyway, next time you're at a bar mulling whether to try a new cocktail, that's my reco.

Until next time,

Matt Ritter​
​The Friendship Guy

If this made you think of someone, forward it to them. And if a friend forwarded this to you, subscribe to The Friendship Habit here.

“Friendship is the original life hack.”

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The Friendship Habit

Matt Ritter - The Friendship Guy

Helping 20,000+ busy adults build better friendships — one small move at a time. From Matt Ritter, co-host of Man of the Year, the #1 podcast on adult friendship and and author of The Buddy System on Audible. Start the seven day challenge today— and make connection a habit.

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