I love that quote by Carrie Bradshaw—you know the one: “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.” It’s always stuck with me, because it reframes friendship as the love story we’ve been overlooking. It inspired this blog, and even led me to coin my own one-liner...We talk a lot about finding ‘the one.’ But the truth is, most of us are held together by the ones—plural.

I really believe that. Why? Because we make movies about lovers. We scroll TikToks about relationship drama. We plan entire life arcs around finding “the one,” and we spend our twenties, thirties—even forties—mapping life around a romantic partner. But the people who actually hold us together? The ones who carry us through every ugly soul crushing cry, every late-night spiral and every last-minute emergency? They're not always romantic partners. More often, they're our friends. And somehow, we still treat them like side characters.

That needs to change. Because let’s be honest: in a world where romantic relationships are glamorized, sexualized, monetized, and algorithmically dissected, friendship is still one of the most sacred, underrated forms of love we have. And yet we neglect it.  We don’t give it the same urgency, attention, or care. We stupidly think that it doesn’t require the same level of intentionality, attention, or commitment that we so freely give to the romances in our life. We assume it will always be there. Until one day, it isn’t—and the heartbreak of losing a friend cuts just as deep as any breakup. Sometimes deeper. 

We spend so much time and energy “dating to marry,” but what about dating to bond? To build the kind of connection that’s not based on romance, but resonance? Someone who texts you just to check in, remembers your coffee order, and has seen your messy ass bedroom mid-breakdown. Someone who doesn't flinch when you’re chaotic, confused, or not performing at your best.

And yet, we continue to treat friendships like background music instead of the emotional scaffolding they really are. We wait too long to plan catch-ups. We bail last-minute because “they’ll understand.” We invest in romantic partners with the urgency of survival, and treat the people who have actually been there for us like afterthoughts. It’s really quite wild, when you think about it.

So, let’s stop and ask ourselves… when was the last time we dated our friends? Not romantically. But intentionally. Purposefully. Like their time matters. Like the connection you have is as important as it really is. 

We need more friend anniversaries. More “just because” plans. More friend vacations that don’t revolve around someone’s wedding. More intentional showing up. Maybe it’s setting up recurring friend dates the same way you would with a partner. Maybe it’s surprising them with their favorite drink on a Wednesday just because you can. Maybe it’s sending a “thinking of you” voice note without a reason. 

Yes, it might feel strange at first. Saying “I love you” out loud. Planning a night out just for the two of you. Making a reservation. Buying them flowers. But why? Why does it feel so strange, when wasting energy on someone who can’t even text back is seen as so normal?

Here’s what it asks of us:

• Offering presence, not performance. You don’t need to dress it up, filter it, or perfect it. Real friendship is the space where you can arrive as you are.

• Practicing radical loyalty. Not blind loyalty. But the kind that stands through seasons, even when life evolves.

• Letting it be expansive. Friendship can be as transformative, as intimate, as world-changing as romance—if we allow it.

• Planning with intention. Don’t just wait for the casual catch-up. Put it on the calendar like you would a date. Treat it as sacred time.
  
  

That’s actually exactly one of the main reasons we built this new version of First Round’s On Me. Because we realised it wasn’t dating that needed fixing—it was connection. And for friendships, we wanted to make it as easy as possible to turn “we should hang out” into we actually did. The premise is still just as beautifully simple: drink, time, place. Choose a spot. Set a time. Invite a friend ( or preferably friends.) The biggest difference is that now, we make showing up even sweeter. We reward you for it. So, the next time you think about planning a big night out, don’t wait for a date. Make one—with your friends on FROM. Show up. Dress up. Laugh too loudly. Stay for the second round. Make the time. Pour into the connections that are already pouring into you. 

Romantic love is beautiful, yes. But it was never meant to be the only kind of love we honor, nurture, and fight for. Friendship is just as profound, just as transformative, just as sustaining. So let’s romanticize the people who’ve earned it. The ones who show up. The ones who see us. The ones who make life feel lighter, even when it’s falling apart.  Because friendship isn’t just a filler between love stories. It is the love story. And maybe the most radical act of love in 2025 is to finally treat friendship like the great romance it has always been. 

Until next time, Hannah x