I think in this day and time, yes, “real friends” are hard to come by because of what you mention about having to look cool on our social media profiles and not being willing to let others get a look inside of who we are without that facade. In a world where weakness is frowned upon, and it is a ‘dog eat dog’ world, how can we become better friends and better neighbors?

I firmly believe that we must be willing to start a dialogue that not only includes talking but includes being able to listen without judgment and with empathy. With so much angst over whether you are politically left or politically right, pro-abortion or anti-abortion, or a one percenter, it will take a lot of work to cut through the noise of political beliefs and personal beliefs to get down to the ‘heart’ which is where true friendships must reside.

Start the conversation in whatever manner you are comfortable and then listen intently to what the person has to say without judgment. Be engaged in the discussion. Put the device down. A device being used during a conversation tells the other person that they do not matter.

Finally, only if we put the devices down and re-engage in verbal communication that includes listening intently will we ever be able to return friendships and neighborhoods to what some of us experienced growing up. Is it possible? I have decided that I will work on this in my daily life and I believe it will make a difference in my relationships.