Just take them. It’s not mean it’s actually very sweet and endearing to have a little token of them you can keep with you.
Hats, t-shirts, socks, etc. Everything is up for grabs!
Give your friend a sweatshirt and have them give you a sweater or something in return. Now when they wear it they will feel closer to you and remember you and vice versa. It’s such a small thing but it feels great wearing clothes from someone you really care about. Bonus points if the clothes are special, cuz that means they really care💚
If you go to a show with someone who really likes a band you are seeing, get some merch for them on the way back from the bathroom as a token of your friendship. They also might get you back in the future so it really starts a chain of gratitude.
Almost every piece of printed material could benefit from having rounded corners. Imagine being served an official court document or a parking ticket with elegant little corners. “Harsh news with soft corners” could be a memoir title or a letter to your ex. I think it’s a lovely detail and design decision that will make you look thoughtful and intelligent.
When I was 19, my friend introduced me to The Talking Heads. I hated them immediately. I loathed long rides in his car because it always meant we would be listening to some challenging avant-garde bs my underdeveloped brain wasn’t ready to appreciate. B always told me when I got older I would understand. He was correct.