What's the difference between chemistry, closeness, and platonic intimacy? Being able to differentiate between these three concepts can help you: • discern substantive friendships • increase self-awareness around your comfort level around true intimacy in your friendships • move friendships into the next level establish boundaries In my group coaching program Friendship Elevated, I spend 4 months with women who are serious about having deep friendships in 2026, and this particular lesson is really powerful! I crafted a few questions to help you see the ways these concepts are playing a role in your PERSONAL friendships right now. Comment CHEMISTRY and I'll send you my "Chemistry Quick Guide" to walk you through it (aaaaand you'll get more details for my group coaching program-- Friday's the last day to join!). In the meantime, cheers to better female friendships in 2026!

Because mentally I am still here. 🎧: Please drop the 90s/00s jams you’re still listening to so I can add them to my playlist!

@daniellebayardjackson • instagram

[Cue comments from people who only watched the first 6 seconds] Here’s how I protect my peace: I engage. I do what I can to make tangible impact. THAT is how I protect my peace, because seeing change and impact in real time gives me PEACE OF MIND. ———— I’ve always thought it was odd that the main association we make for “protecting our peace” looks like disengagement. While some situations call for exactly that, there are other situations in which getting more active is a way of protecting your peace (sometimes for the short-term, always for the long-term). And don’t get me wrong: I am also turning off socials and going to the zoo with my kids and talking about the latest celebrity gossip. That kind of recharge allows me to have the fuel to keep fighting the good fight But being ignorant about key current events stresses me, but getting informed protects my peace. Being scared because I feel helpless stresses me, so doing something real protects my peace. Knowing the trajectory of my kids' future might be determined by people who are more active than me but less good-willed ticks me off, but combatting their efforts by improving my kids' literacy, empathy, and conviction helps me to protect my peace. I'm just sayin'. ---------------------------- Resources mention: Know your rights against ICE: @chirla_org @immigrationlawyers_ @nilc Contact your reps (literally so easy): @5calls Church (Tampa): @greenhousetpa

@daniellebayardjackson • instagram

Conversation for when you feel like you don’t have anything interesting (“tea”, wow-worthy updates, etc) to add to the group chat —- Oh! And if you comment -scripts- I’ll send you a conversation guide with: -research -scripts -videos -strategies ... to help you start, carry, and close conversations with more confidence and finesse. If you feel like you perpetually struggle with this kind of thing, I promise you this will help. Truly. Good luck!

@daniellebayardjackson • instagram

NEW SERIES: “Unpopular friendship opinions” (1/4) MAJOR caveat in the caption: If you are the friend who’s considered a “bad texter,” try to really consider the MEANING friends assign to your text habits/ style. Even though it makes sense that you’d want to lean into the communication mode that feels most comfortable and natural, it doesn’t mean that it won’t cause a real strain on your friendships– and you don’t want that! Some things “bad” texters can do: 1. Let new friends know upfront: “I’m not really quick on text but you can call me any time!” 2. Share your POV: Sometimes if friends had a picture of YOUR text experience (overwhelm, forgetfulness, lifestyle), it creates understanding and helps them to be more compassionate and flexible. Maybe they still get frustrated, but at least it helps to depersonalize it. 3. Make one small, manageable change (and explicitly state the effort so friends recognize this as a gesture of care for the relationship). Maybe you offer to give “thumbs up” when messages come through but don’t reply fully until you have the time. LISTEN: I just want to make room for people who prefer voice notes, hangouts, (emails?), or phone calls, and I want to challenge the ways our culture has adopted texting as the default. I just think it’s interesting. If you have people in your life that you know are feeling neglected or frustrated with your habits and it’s causing actual relational strain, I DO believe you owe them (close friends especially!) some kind of explanation or effort to find common ground and to manage expectations. Bottom line: Relationship maintenance is a skill and a requirement for healthy connections. BUT I want to make room for the various ways people choose to maintain (choosing NOT to maintain a relationship, however, is a whole other issue.) ——- Inspired by a convo I had in L.A. over dinner with @miriam_tinny recently. If this topic is intriguing to you, I strongly recommend reading the book “Digital Body Language” by @ericadhawan_ . It’s one of those books that I recommend about 100 times a year.

@daniellebayardjackson • instagram