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