Just about everywhere you turn the refrain is about the same – “I’m so busy.”
We all are swamped this time of year between winding down work projects, planning holiday coverage or for a good many people, still getting ready to make merry.
Even with all that on people’s plates, we extend a little advice heading into the holidays: take time to mingle.
Without sliding too deep into the misery bucket, the past few years have been hard, between losing my dad and numerous friends. Reaching a point in life some might consider the last half or last quarter, the value of time becomes more apparent. The appreciation of friendships becomes more acute.
We find it also brings on a season of good will where favours are returned when friends and family face challenges new to them. The cruel nature of cancer or the heartless outcomes of diagnosed dementia are made less difficult by the support of friends.
Everyone has a story and a struggle at some point. Listening, then offering some advice or words of comfort make hopeless days easier to manage. Sometimes it is just one day at a time.
The irony of today’s connected world and the loneliness some people feel is astounding. The ability to Zoom or Facetime at will was not even on the radar back in the ‘70s and ‘80s as major telecoms touted the “reach out and touch someone” line.
Connectedness at that time was limited to a phone call over hard-wired landlines. Today, wireless and bouncing about some digital trail, that need to connect is not entirely satisfied.
While we think often of recently lost friendships and ache for one last phone call or quick coffee, we remain thankful for the good sense to have kept friendships well. It takes some work, but what of consequence in life comes without effort?
We challenge readers this week to act on intuition when an idea strikes or keep a promise to someone else that a coffee be shared soon. Just make it happen.
A handshake, perhaps a hug, followed by time uninterrupted are more valuable than any commercial good on the market today. Trust us on that one.
Take the time to mingle.
No regrets.
