Under the Influence with Jo Piazza How to Build Deep Friendships Without Burning Yourself Out
Dec 25, 2025
Anya Kamenetz, a journalist and author known for her insights on culture and family, dives deep into the complexities of adult friendships. She explores how connections evolve in midlife, dispelling the loneliness narrative while emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and community. Anya shares practical tips like scheduling check-ins to maintain friendships, managing conflicts as part of real community dynamics, and creating intentional networks. With a focus on choosing friends wisely and honoring seasonal shifts in relationships, she offers a refreshing take on nurturing deeper bonds.
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Loneliness Narrative Doesn't Fit Everyone
- Anya Kamenetz found the loneliness narrative didn't fit her because she cultivated deeper adult friendships in her 40s.
- She wrote about that experience to explain why abundance and generosity change midlife social dynamics.
Midlife Friendship Tapestry
- Anya describes being mid-40s with multiple group texts, friend-givings, and people who help with everyday tasks like feeding her cat.
- This abundance contrasts with her earlier scarcity mindset about friendship.
Vulnerability Unlocks Deeper Bonds
- The pivotal shift was vulnerability: letting people know the real you and lowering defenses.
- That small change enabled acquaintances to move across the invisible barrier into friendship.