Why We Need Friends More Than Ever
Celebrate Friendship Month by reaching out — and seeing what blossoms.
Jul 06, 2025
Written by our Founder and Chairman, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.
Friendships shape us in ways few other relationships can. Our friends cheer us on in life’s big moments and lift us up when times get hard. They make life richer and more meaningful. But if we’re not careful, friendships can start to slip away without us even realizing it.
It usually doesn’t happen all at once. A friend you used to talk to weekly becomes someone you think about but don’t reach out to. That regular coffee date turns into a maybe-next-month one. You can blame this on life getting busy with work, family, and responsibilities, but before you know it, the connection fades.
Most friendships don’t end with a bang but a whimper. And when they do, we lose not only a companion but also a part of ourselves, including the shared history and the feeling of being known and understood.
Like flowers, friendships flourish with just a little attention. A quick message, a phone call, or a small “just because” surprise is all it takes to rekindle a connection.
On July 30, the world will mark the 14th annual International Day of Friendship. Proclaimed by the United Nations in 2011, this day is to honor the ties that bind us. But I think one day isn’t enough. That’s why we’re devoting the entire month to celebrating friendship in all its beauty and depth. And we’re starting Friendship Month with the simplest, most powerful idea of all: showing up for the friends we already have.
Overcoming the friendship recession
Why does this focus on friendship matter? Because we’re living through what researchers now call a friendship recession, and it’s impacting our health.
According to a 2021 study, only 13% of Americans say they have 10 or more close friends, which is a steep drop from past generations. Meanwhile, loneliness is on the rise. We’re socializing less and spending more time in front of screens than with each other. Add in political division, relentless work demands, and the lingering effects of the pandemic, and it’s no wonder many of us feel more isolated than ever.
This isn’t just sad — it’s dangerous.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called loneliness a public health crisis, with risks as serious as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It increases the chances of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and premature death.
Loneliness is also self-perpetuating. As social scientist John Cacioppo explained, feeling disconnected can rewire our brains and make us more sensitive to rejection and less likely to reach out. That’s why even a single text or small gesture can interrupt that feedback loop and make a real difference. Use your power of connection!
A friendship challenge
So here’s a challenge for Friendship Month: Scroll through your contacts, find someone you’ve lost touch with, and send a simple message: “You popped into my mind — let’s catch up next week.”
I’d love to hear how it works and what tips you might have for rekindling relationships. At the end of the month, I’ll share a few reflections from the Celebrations Pulse community. Whether it’s a reunion, a message out of the blue, or a card that arrived just when you needed it, your story may inspire others to reach out, too.
Here’s to keeping friendships alive, one thoughtful connection at a time.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
