Friendship and loyalty

Let's discuss friendship and loyalty.

Ice breaker: What are the three values you treasure most in a friend?

Themes to explore:
Beginnings: Focus on the transition from "surface level" to "soul level."

• Think of a friendship that felt "earned." What was the specific moment—or the specific secret shared—that officially moved them from an acquaintance to a confidant?
• What’s an assumption you made about a friend during your first week of knowing them that now makes you laugh because of how wrong you were?
• Describe the funniest or most awkward "friend-meeting" story you have. What was the vibe, and why did you decide to see them again despite the awkwardness?
• What is the most vulnerable or courageous "first move" you’ve made to start a friendship? (e.g., asking for a phone number, admitting you were lonely, or inviting them to an event).

Joy and memory: Focus on the "emotional glue" that bonds people over time.

• Describe a day you spent with a friend where you didn't "do" anything significant, yet it remains one of your favourite memories. What made that mundane time feel so joyful?
• Do you have a "micro-tradition" with a friend—like a specific way you say goodbye, a recurring inside joke, or a place you always stop at? How does this small ritual contribute to your sense of belonging?
• Describe a time you felt a deep sense of joy not for yourself, but because you were watching a friend succeed or find happiness. What was it like to "witness" their win?
• Beyond birthdays or holidays, what is the most meaningful "just because" gesture a friend has ever made that caught you by surprise?

Identity and influence: Focus on how friendship acts as a catalyst for personal change.

• Who is the friend that acted as an "architect" for your personality? What specific trait of yours exists today because they encouraged it?
• Which friend acts as a key to a part of your personality that no one else gets to see? What "version" of yourself do you only become when they are in the room?
• Tell a story about a time you "showed up" for a friend (or they for you) when it was inconvenient, expensive, or difficult. How did that change your self-image?
• Describe a moment when a friend put your feelings into words better than you could. What did it feel like to be that deeply understood?

Conflict and growth: Focus on the friction that leads to deeper resilience.

• Looking back at a friendship "breakup" or a major falling out, what did that loss teach you about your own non-negotiables in a relationship?

• Share a time a misunderstanding led to a "better" version of the friendship. How did the air feel after the "storm" passed?

• When you’ve outgrown a friendship, how did you handle the guilt versus the growth? How do you honour that person’s role in your past without staying in your present?

• Describe a time a friend gave you "tough love." In the moment, did you feel defensive or grateful, and how do you feel about it now?

Wrap up: Vote on next topic.