TC 302 – Cafe Book Club: Introducing "Frientimacy" by Shasta Nelson

In this week's podcast host Robin Masiewicz and co-host Amy Frost introduce our next Cafe Book Club selection: Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness by Shasta Nelson, a nationally recognized friendship expert.  The term "Frientimacy" is a combination of "Friendship" and "Intimacy" (as opposed to "Frenemies", which is an entirely different topic best saved for another day). Shasta has a theory. She believe that friendship can save the world. But what does that mean? Take a look at the brief video below that illustrates why she thinks friendship is so crucial. Over the next several weeks, we'll be exploring Frientimacy and the companion workbook and assessments which you can find on Shasta's website.Tentative Schedule:Chapters 1-2 – The Intimacy GapChapters 3-5  – The Frientimacy Triangle, Identifying the 5 Intimacy Gaps and Positivity – Giving and ReceivingChapters 6 -7 –  Consistency – Building Trust and Vulnerability – Deeper MeaningChapters 8-10 – Leaning into Intimacy – Obstacles Doubting our Self Worth and Fear of RejectionChapters 11-13 – Obstacles – The Toxic Friend, Jealousy and Envy and Holding Ourselves BackConclusion – retake the quiz… come prepared to talk about what you learned and what are our next steps in friendship.We invite you to join us each week as we work through the book and explore how we can implement the ideas in our own lives. You can support the Transformation-Cafe by purchasing  Frientimacy using this link, or use the link in the Cafe Book Club Selection in the sidebar. It won't cost you any more, but it helps us to continue providing new content. Thanks!Amy shares a poem by John O'Donohue in this episode.A Friendship BlessingMay you be blessed with good friends.May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where there is great love, warmth, feeling and forgiveness.May this change you.May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you.May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging.May you treasure your friends.May you be good to them and may you be there for them; may they bring you all the blessings, challenges, truth and light that you need for your journey.May you never be isolated.May you always be in the gentle nest of belonging with your anam cara (soul friend).John O’Donohue –  Anam Cara – A Book of Celtic Wisdom About Shasta:Shasta Nelson, M.Div., is the Founder of GirlFriendCircles.com, a women’s friendship matching site in 65 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Her spirited and soulful voice for strong female relationships can be found in her books Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness and Friendships Don’t Just Happen! The Guide to Creating a Meaningful Circle of GirlFriends. She also writes at ShastasFriendshipBlog.com and in the Huffington Post, speaks across the country,