After I graduated from college, I was living in Tulsa and working at Chili’s, trying to figure out what direction my life was going to take.
And I was discouraged.
One day I was sitting in my apartment when there was a knock at the door.
I wasn’t expecting anyone.
When I opened it, there stood my good friend Cindy.
And she had brought me a cookie.
Not just any cookie.
One of those big slices of cookie you could buy at the cookie shop in the mall. 😊
She asked if I wanted to go for a walk.
So we headed down to Riverside Drive and walked along the path beside the Arkansas River.
And that was it.
A friend.
A cookie.
And a walk.
You would have thought she had solved my whole problem, wrapped it up in a bow, and handed it to me.
That happened more than 30 years ago, and I still remember it.
I don’t remember anything we talked about.
I don’t remember whether she gave me any brilliant advice.
Honestly, I don’t think that was the point.
She just showed up.
She walked beside me when I was discouraged and didn’t know where I was going.
And all these years later, that simple act of friendship is still something I cherish.
That’s an Amigo.
Amigos are the people walking beside us.
They may not know the answer.
They may not be able to fix what’s hard.
But they help carry the weight simply by being there.
They listen.
They encourage.
They laugh with us.
They sit with us when life feels heavy.
And sometimes they knock on the door with a cookie and remind us that we don’t have to figure everything out alone.
There are seasons when we need a mentor who can help us see farther down the road.
But there are also seasons when what we need most is simply someone willing to walk the road beside us.
〰️〰️〰️ 🤠 〰️〰️〰️
How to Welcome New Amigos and Tend the Ones You Have
(See my “Nice • Friendly • Welcoming” post for the difference.)
👋 To welcome a new Amigo
- Start with what you have in common. Ask about an interest they mentioned or pick up a conversation you enjoyed the last time you saw them.
- Make a specific invitation. “I’ve enjoyed visiting with you. Want to grab lunch next week?” You can also invite them to something you’re already doing.
- Give them a chance to get to know you, too. Show interest in their life and share a little of yours.
- Let them know you were glad they came. A quick “I really enjoyed getting to know you” goes a long way.
💛 To tend an Amigo you already have
- Make the call. If it’s been a while, start with “I miss catching up with you. How are you doing these days?”
- Remember what’s happening in their life. Check in after the interview, ask how their first week went, or send a quick “Thinking of you today. ❤️”
- Bring back something you used to enjoy together. “I miss our Saturday breakfasts. Want to get one on the calendar?”
- Let them know what they mean to you. “I was thinking about that time you showed up for me. It still means a lot.”
📅 With either friend, make time for the next time
- Before you part ways, pick a date. “I’d love to do this again. Want to look at our calendars while we’re together?”
- Put it on repeat if you both want to. A first-Friday lunch or a Sunday phone call gives you time together you can count on.
Who could you invite in this week? And which friend could you reach out to again?
🤠 Get Your Posse.
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