I have amazing friends. They are kind to me, care about me, they are supportive and encouraging.

My birthday is in May, and I'm doing the facebook fundraiser thing (you fundraise on FB for a cause important you you) for the first time this year. 4 of my friends donated to the cause on the 1st day. The cause I chose is a local suicide hotline and warmline.

I have to say I feel really weird asking my friends for money. I hadn't thought about that when I signed up to fundraise. At all. Its not like they are giving ME money though. It is to the organization. I may just be personalizing this and making it a much bigger deal in my head than it needs to be.

Regardless, my friends are amazing people and I'm really grateful for them. I want to give back to them. And not just one time. I want to consistently be there for them. I want to support them in their goals. And cheer them on. I don't know why I feel lost over how I can be a good and supportive friend. I mean, its not hard. But if anyone has ideas of how to be a supportive friend, please tell me. If YOU are a supportive friend, what do you do? What are your actions that show that.

I also had an idea. I can ask them how I can support them as their friend. I see nothing wrong w being direct. They'd probably appreciate it!

[Iloivar]

Originally Posted by Ptak

I have amazing friends. They are kind to me, care about me, they are supportive and encouraging.

My birthday is in May, and I'm doing the facebook fundraiser thing (you fundraise on FB for a cause important you you) for the first time this year. 4 of my friends donated to the cause on the 1st day. The cause I chose is a local suicide hotline and warmline.

I have to say I feel really weird asking my friends for money. I hadn't thought about that when I signed up to fundraise. At all. Its not like they are giving ME money though. It is to the organization. I may just be personalizing this and making it a much bigger deal in my head than it needs to be.

Regardless, my friends are amazing people and I'm really grateful for them. I want to give back to them. And not just one time. I want to consistently be there for them. I want to support them in their goals. And cheer them on. I don't know why I feel lost over how I can be a good and supportive friend. I mean, its not hard. But if anyone has ideas of how to be a supportive friend, please tell me. If YOU are a supportive friend, what do you do? What are your actions that show that.

I also had an idea. I can ask them how I can support them as their friend. I see nothing wrong w being direct. They'd probably appreciate it!

I'd say that being direct to your friends is the easiest way. The question you mentioned potentially covers everything based on their response. If they consider you a supportive friend, whether you need to improve on anything, what they consider a supportive friend. Perhaps if that initial question doesn't answer those, you could ask those questions as well.

Perhaps something that could also be helpful to ponder on is, think of all the traits which could be lumped as supportive. What comes easiest/hardest for you?

Thanks.

I also did a Google search. "How to be a good friend."