Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Joyful Notes

Christmas is almost upon us...just 5 more days.  Can you believe it?

This month's challenge has zipped by too, and I'm a little sad that I only have 11 more joyful notes left to write.

I have had such a wonderful time penning a short note to a different friend each day that I am truly going to miss it on January 1st.

I know nothing says I have to give it up...I mean I could be like Gretchen Rubin, who wrote The Happiness Project, and allow the challenges to compound from month to month (although I might run out of friends that way...and would potentially have to recycle my friend list).

                                                    the happier at home big book

Although I had a better solution this morning while driving to work...perhaps monthly I could mail a full length letter to a friend and try to keep in touch better.

I find that with my oldest friends, those I went to college with, we don't see each other very often and, other than a few texts here or there, we don't have the opportunity to stay on top of what is going on in each others lives.

Having a strong friendship bond can have some of the following benefits:

  1. Live longer--strong friendships help reduce your levels of chronic stress
  2. Keep us from being lonely
  3. Increase self-esteem
  4. Encourage you to change habits (i.e. give up smoking or to start exercising more)
  5. Help you cope with trauma
Now that we know our friends can help us live longer and healthier let's think about ways to keep that connection.

What ways do you keep in touch with your friends?



1 comment:

  1. I try to catch a meal with friends once in awhile, text MANY people for every holiday, avidly keep up with them on facebook.

    ReplyDelete