Strengthening Social Connections

Social and Emotional Connections are vital for our overall health and wellbeing.  According to Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs  after we have satisfied our Physiological needs (Food, water and air), and our Safety needs (shelter, money)  our next greatest Human need is Love and Belongingness.

Wow, once we are fed and watered and we have shelter our next greatest need is love.

So how do we satisfy this social, emotional need?

We are Connected

Through our connections with family and friends.

Do we need to nurture these connections?

Can they be strengthened, weakened?

Hell Yeah!!!

In the last 3 days as I liked and commented on Facebook, checked and replied to comments on my blog, read my emails and texts and even tried my hand at tweeting on Twitter. I wondered did any of this strengthen my social connections?

I remembered how my Nanna never missed a birthday, she had those cards ready weeks in advance for all the people she had made connections with in her life.  Those same people could count on a Christmas card too.  That was her way of maintaining connections.

I like to think that some of this rubbed off on me as I  maintain many connections with friends and family in a private, intimate way on a regular basis.

Yet there are people I have lost my connection with and some of them I do wish I hadn’t.

Now here is the really exciting part, re establishing that connection through a direct line of contact can be thrilling.

You see over the past few weeks I have been very active on Social Media as I launched my blog and  biz.

As a result I have found my way into the inboxes and news feeds of many people.

I have received emails and messages wishing me well and cheering me on from people I have not spoken to in years.

Let me tell you there was a happy dance in the kitchen each time.  I was blown away by every single one.  Amazed that a long-lost friend had taken the time to stop and send me a message.  Yes to me, not for the WWW but little Ole me.

I started thinking, could I offer this same thrill to others?  Who can I surprise with an unexpected message, email or text? Is there someone close to me I want to acknowledge and show that I value our connection?  Maybe someone I have not seen or spoken to for a while.

So here is the challenge, join me if you dare.

For the next 7 days I will send a private message via text, email, Facebook or even snail mail to one different person each day, just to let them know I think they are amazing.

I have included a link to Alexandra Franzen’s “50 Ways to Say you’re Awesome” have some fun with this.

Let’s strengthen our connections and send some love out into the world together.