WHY ARE FRIENDSHIPS SO FLUID ? - My thoughts on American Friendship as a Single Woman

Summary

In this video, Catherine reflects on the transient nature of American friendships, influenced by factors like social media and life changes. She discusses how friendships can be easily formed and lost, especially in a society where people frequently move and change social circles. Catherine shares her personal experiences, including losing touch with friends during the pandemic and the impact of social media on maintaining relationships. She encourages viewers to cultivate meaningful friendships while accepting the natural ebb and flow of social connections.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The video discusses the nature of American friendships, particularly in a transient area like North Jersey.
• 🏡 People often move away after living in a place for a few years, which affects the longevity of friendships.
• 🤔 The speaker reflects on how friendships evolve from childhood through college and into the workforce, noting the ease of making and losing friends.
• 😲 The pandemic has led to the loss of some friendships, with people drifting apart due to differing views on safety measures.
• 💬 Social media plays a significant role in maintaining friendships, but it also makes it easy to lose touch with people.
• 💍 The speaker was surprised not to be invited to a close friend's wedding, leading to a reevaluation of what constitutes a 'true' friend.
• 🤝 True friendships are rare and can withstand major life changes, whereas more casual friendships may not.
• 👥 As people go through life, their social circles change, with friends coming and going based on life stages and circumstances.
• 📱 The ease of making friends is contrasted with the ease of losing them, suggesting a 'cheap' nature to some American friendships.
• 🌱 The video serves as a call to action to cultivate friendships, while also acknowledging that it's okay for some friendships to end.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Catherine's video?

The main topic of Catherine's video is her observation on American friendship and her perspective on how it can be perceived as 'cheap'.

Why does Catherine describe American friendships as 'cheap'?

Catherine describes American friendships as 'cheap' because she believes they are easily formed and just as easily lost, often due to life changes or lack of communication.

What is Catherine's geographical context for her observations?

Catherine lives in North Jersey near the city, which she describes as a transient area where people often move in and out, influencing her view on friendships.

How does Catherine reflect on her friendships during the pandemic?

Catherine mentions losing a significant number of friends during the pandemic, including a close college friend whose wedding she was surprised to miss, leading her to question the depth of their friendship.

What role does social media play in Catherine's perception of friendships?

Catherine discusses how social media can lead to both the formation and dissolution of friendships easily, as it provides a superficial level of connection without the need for deeper engagement.

How does Catherine feel about the ease of losing friendships?

Catherine expresses that it's sad how easily friendships can be lost, but she also acknowledges that it's a part of modern life and that the barrier to both making and losing friends is wide.

What does Catherine suggest about the rarity of true friendships?

Catherine suggests that true friendships are rare and can stand the test of time, even through significant life changes, referencing Father Mike Schmidt's discussion on the topic.

How does Catherine's marital status affect her friendships?

As a single unmarried person, Catherine notes that most of her friends are also single, and she suggests that life-altering changes like marriage and having children can lead to losing friends.

What advice does Catherine give about cultivating friendships?

Catherine encourages viewers to actively cultivate their friendships, but also to accept that some friendships may naturally end, and that's okay.

What is Catherine's call to action at the end of her video?

Catherine's call to action is for viewers to seriously reach out to someone they want to be friends with and invite them for a drink or coffee, especially if they are single.

How does Catherine view the constant change in friendships?

Catherine views the constant change in friendships as a natural part of life, especially for single people, and she encourages acceptance of this fluidity.