Hi All!
Staying connected to friends and family during social distancing is an absolute must in order to stay healthy. In fact a Harvard study shows it is one of the most important, if not THE most important, factors in how long you live! Staying socially distant can seem like an awfully lonely and solitary exercise, but it is what we need to commit to in order to stop the spread of Covid 19.
So what can we do? First and foremost, stay in contact. Text messages, messaging apps, phone calls (remember those), and video chats are all a great way to stay connected. Set times and dates and make appointments with family and friends and stick to it. Things will come up. Reschedule. Realize the importance of staying in touch.
Schedule fun social events you can do with friends and family. Trivia nights, movie nights (Netflix has a group watch option now), a Tight and Bright Aerobics Party (shameless plug), Wine and Cheese nights, coffee, brunch, and much much more are all good reasons to get online and chat with friends. By now most of us have heard of Zoom, but there are lots of alternatives out there that can help keep you connected. Check out this list of 9 alternatives if Zoom doesn't work for you. One that I haven't tried yet, but I've heard good reviews on is Houseparty. A more social version of some of the more business focused video conferencing apps.
I have found that during this time of limited social contact, I am thinking more and more of old friends that I have lost touch with. Friends from high school, grade school, cities and countries I used to live in, etc. What better time to jumpstart old friendships then now!
High school Prom reunion anyone!!!
The point is, that no one wants to go through this alone. To paraphrase someone great and profound who I can't remember (or Google). Kindness starts as a ripple, but can grow into a tidal wave as it radiates away from that one single act. So start that ripple now. you never know who you may be helping.
