It's so easy to lose touch with people as we go through life. There are so many reasons why we lose touch with people whose company or relationships we enjoy. Sometimes we lose touch because of a change in demographics. Maybe there's been a change in a job for a spouse or somebody was seeking higher education. Our priorities change as we get married and have kids. And as we age and grow, our beliefs can change and how to view or see things. This of course can cause conflict or create unresolved disagreements with friends and family. Unresolved issues create emotional distance. Social media can also aid in a slow steady disconnect as we rely on social media posts for personal and family updates- we all know how accurate social media is to real life happenings. Social media doesn't provide the deep connection that we all crave and desire. And lastly, let's be honest: maintaining connection requires an investment of time, sometimes money and a little effort. Effort is required in planning and prioritizing the connection -getting off the couch or saying no to things we would also like to do or be apart of.
Maintaining relationships isn't always easy. So why do it?
When we have a connection with somebody, it creates a partnership for trust and support. We have somebody we can lean on and depend on when we are going through difficult times. Having somebody to lean on is helpful when we are seeking advice or just want somebody to listen to us. Sometimes we may need a different perspective. Just hearing ourselves talk and to be able to vent to somebody can be so therapeutic.
Having connections and good relationships with people creates memories and shared experiences that enhance relationships. When I was in high school, I loved visiting my cousins in another state. One of my favorite memories from this time is a bagpipe musician that my uncle LOVED! He would play his music so loud and us girls would laugh and giggle, making jokes about Alex Beaton, the bagpipe musician. As adults my cousins and I have shared an ongoing joke about this with my uncle which always lights up the room with laughter. Sharing memories helps strengthen these bonds and can contribute to the richness and depth of our life experience.
When you have strong bonds and relationships, you live longer! Studies show this time and time again, it's no secret that the quality of our relationships is directly related to our quality of life.
Maintaining relationships can be work and requires that we prioritize our valuable resources of time and money. If we choose to invest and maintain relationships, we will be healthier emotionally and socially. We will have emotional growth and experience a more fulfilled and meaningful life when we expose ourselves to new and different perspectives.
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