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I met my now best friend and business partner, April Allen, in 2020. She had just been hired as the Equity Officer for the health system where I was serving as Vice President of Human Resources.
A little secret: April had not always been the biggest fan of HR professionals. Throughout her career, she'd often experienced HR as rigid, rule-bound, and overly focused on policy. (Little did she know she was about to meet an HR unicorn who isn't particularly fond of policy and procedure either!)
As we logged onto that first Zoom call together, I remember her first words vividly.
"Hello, friend."
We had never met before, and the very first thing April ever called me was friend.
Over the last six years, I've watched that simple word change people's days. I've seen moods soften. I've watched clients and employees walk into a room guarded or wary, only to relax in the presence of a genuine smile and a simple gesture of care. There is something powerful about being greeted not as a problem to solve, a title, or a transaction—but as a friend.
And so, I've adopted the practice myself.
I call people friend at the grocery store, on hiking trails, in my neighborhood, with clients, and sometimes even with my actual family and friends. What has amazed me is how often I see it register. A pause. A smile. A softening.
Because the truth is, we all want a friend.
It may seem like a small thing. And perhaps you're an introvert, or someone who reserves that word for a select few. But I'd encourage you to consider giving this practice a try.
In a world that can often feel fractured, polarized, and a little scary, offering the simplest expression of shared humanity can make a difference. It certainly has for me. What started as a word has become a way of moving through the world—with a little more openness, a little more warmth, and a lot more connection.
So what do you think, friend?
Willing to give it a try?
Your friends,
April and Shawna
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