Here at Wellbeing.Place, you’ve heard us talk time and time again about how important friends are. And you know what, we’re going to keep talking about it! In fact, on July 30th, people across the world will be celebrating their friendships as part of the International Day of Friendship. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UN), their goal is to help bring people together and unite us together to help make the world a better place.

Here are some ideas to help you celebrate this International Day of Friendship:

• Schedule some fun: social distancing and other regulations may have put a halt to your regular get togethers with your friends, but that’s still no excuse to not have some fun! Take advantage of technology and try setting up a Friendship Day celebration over video chat. Try coming up with a fun game to play, such as “how well we know each other” trivia, or simply enjoy each other’s company while you catch up.

• Send a surprise: everyone loves a good surprise! Try putting together a goodie basket of things your friends enjoy and surprise them by dropping it off at their homes while they least expect it. Of course, be sure to follow proper social distancing and other regulations to stay safe!

• Lend a hand: while you may not literally be able to help in person, one thing that truly sets friends apart from any acquaintance in your life is that friends help each other in need. The simple question of, “is there anything I can help you with?” can go a long way to showing someone how much they actually mean to you. So, give your friend a call, send a text and see if there’s something you can do to help out.

• Keep it honest: one of the most overlooked aspects of friendships is the ability to be open and honest. Friends can help you learn, grow and be a better person overall when honesty is part of the friendships. Ask your friends to be upfront with you and offer the same openness to them. By being truthful and authentic, you begin to strengthen your relationships and you can build a sense of trust that leaves everyone involved feeling like they’re never alone.