#2013alive: Reconnect With a Loved One

It’s month 2, week 4 of our 12 Months of Wellness. This week we’re looking back and reaching out—to reconnect with a loved one we haven’t seen or talked to in a while.

It’s easy to put some things off

In the course of our busy lives, it’s easy to put our heads down and bury ourselves in the day-to-day minutiae. It often feels like a burden just to keep on track. It’s easy, then, to lose track of those people who mean something to us, but whom we may not encounter without a special occasion to bring us together.

Why not make your own special occasion, rather than waiting for a family wedding or reunion? That favourite aunt who’s always so happy to hear from you may not mind that it’s been six months since you last called. In fact, you may be surprised at just how happy she is to hear your voice.

But it’s important to maintain social connections

We can forget sometimes just how essential it is to our own mental and physical well-being to maintain social connections. Studies have shown repeatedly that support from others can help people solve problems, deal better with hardship, and help develop a sense of control over life circumstances.

Being connected to others is a powerful tool. It can be equally useful to connect personally as it is to reach out online via social media. Websites such as Facebook and Twitter as well as health-related sites with public forums, such as alive.com, can have a powerful effect on enhancing people’s well-being.

It’s easier than you think to reconnect

There are so many ways we can reconnect with someone who’s important to us.

• Pick up the phone and just say “Hi!”
• Phone or send an email and set up a coffee date.
• If your loved one lives far away, email and ask to meet up via Skype.
• Plan an outing to visit old haunts that bring back pleasant memories.

I’m picking up the phone

There’s an important person in my life that I plan to reach out to this week. Though our last conversation was a difficult one, I’m almost sure that reconnecting will be a good experience. Do you know someone who’d be glad of a call?

What’s your plan?

There’s nothing like rekindling old friendships or touching base with a family member whose been out of touch for a while. If you have a loved one who’s been on your mind—but not in your life—for a while, let us know how you plan to reconnect. Drop us a line via blog posts or Facebook comments, or by using the Twitter hashtag #2013alive.