Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it. —Anais Nin
This week my partner Tim and I shared an inside peek into our 17 years together with a focus on navigating the pandemic. Listen to the podcast here.
In addition to routine, nurturing connections has been emphasized as a critical part of maintaining our mental health throughout COVID (and beyond).
Over the past 11 months, I’ve savored socially distanced tea dates, enjoyed Zoom check-ins, typed out text messages, penned snail mail, and sent emails to stay connected to an intimate cohort. You, too? These touches have been a lifeline during a challenging time.
Even as I type this post, I have 65 glittery Valentine’s Day postcards stamped and ready to send to the Passholder Collective and friends. For me, this is a simple and sparkly way to nurture connections.
Consider a relationship (or three) you want to nurture and choose a way to prioritize it this week. Here are ideas:
- Ask how you can support them
- Apologize first
- Bake something for them
- Hold the door open
- Say “thank you”
- Ask how they are and really listen
- Watch a show together from your own homes
- Smile (they’ll see your eyes lift under the mask)
- Send snail mail
- Think loving thoughts
- Let them go first
- Schedule an online small group meetup (ex. book club, knitting group)
- Make a gift for someone struggling
- Schedule a Zoom happy hour, brunch, or tea date
- Listen without interrupting
- Go for a walk together
- Send Valentine’s cards and/or treats (anyone else obsessed with conversation hearts?!)
- Do a virtual class together from your own homes
- Send a thinking of you text
- Plan a date night
- Try a virtual Airbnb experience
- Order takeout to be delivered to your homes and shared together via Zoom
- Give little gifts of delight (ex. I’ve bought Tim way too many Star Wars socks)
How are you nurturing yours right now?
Wishing you space for deep connections at a time when we need them more than ever. Bisous. x
