The Friendships We Don't Plan For

Adult friendship doesn't happen by accident, it happens on purpose. In this conversation with Ashley, co-owner of our counseling practice and my best friend, we talk about why making friends as an adult is genuinely harder, why so many good friendships quietly fade under busyness, and what it actually takes to move a friendship from surface-level to real. We will also discuss concrete takeaways—things you can actually do this week. We will talk about: Why making friends as an adult is harder than it was in school and what actually work? Why friendships fade during busy seasons, and how to keep them alive without grand gestures What keeps friendships stuck at surface level and how to move toward real depth Practical takeaways for building, maintaining, and deepening friendships A real, honest conversation between two friends who run a counseling practice together Five key takeaways: Proximity repeated over time beats instant connection Be the one who initiates, even when it's vulnerable Lower the bar for contact; small deposits count Name the season instead of disappearing Ask one real question instead of five surface ones