Stronger together: building a long life through meaningful bonds
I think we can all agree that social connection is good for our mental health. Now we’re learning that it is good for our physical health as well.
According to a recent article published by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “Researchers agree that social connection can help people live longer and healthier lives. Being socially disconnected, for example, is associated with higher risk of illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, and dementia. Loneliness and social isolation have also been shown to increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29% respectively.”
In my book, online connections count, and it’s one of the reasons I keep blogging…the wonderful connections I’ve made with other bloggers around the world.
That said, for me in person connections are the best…and family trumps all. With that in mind, I will be taking the next week off from blogging to spend time building social connections in person with various family members who are coming to visit.
This also falls in line with my Summer Possibilities list item:
8. Visits with various family members.
Blog scheduling
I plan to return to blogging on July 22. In the meantime, I will be responding to any of you who are so kind as to comment on this post, but it may take me a bit longer than usual.
Until then, I wish you a happy couple of weeks full of social connection!
Your turn
- What’s the farthest you’ve traveled to visit family? Do you video chat with them in between visits?
- For my blogger friends, do you take occasional blogging breaks? Do you feel the need to announce them, like I just did?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
If my family isn’t in New England (and more specifically CT or RI) with me then they live in North Carolina so that is the furthest we’ve traveled to see them. I hope to get down there this Oct/ Nov and see my sisters. I definitely take blogging breaks now and then; sometimes I announce them and other times I just write a quick explanation when I return. I hope you have a lovely time with your family!
It’s nice to have family close by, isn’t it, Joanne? We are definitely enjoying our visitors. My sister just went home this morning, and now we are eagerly awaiting three teenage granddaughters.
Hi Christie – nothing beats time with family. We have our grandgirls coming to stay on Friday and I’m very much looking forward to their visit.
I’ve taken blogging breaks a couple of times when I’ve needed to regroup mentally, and also when I had my hip replaced. Blogging is a joy and should never be a chore.
Enjoy your time with your loved ones. x
Thanks Leanne. I hope you enjoy your time with the grandgirls. Of course, I know you will. As you said, nothing’s better than time with family!
I think Maryland is the farthest I gone to visit our sister, Connie. Thankfully most of our family lives relatively close. I’m glad I get to be part of your social connections. 👯♀️
Hello Cindy! I do believe Maryland (also to visit Connie) is my longest trip to visit family as well. I so enjoyed our recent time together. See you next month!
What’s the farthest you’ve traveled to visit family? I used to go from OH to FL to see family but no one is left to visit. I am what is called an Adult Orphan, no family left & have no children of my own.
For my blogger friends, do you take occasional blogging breaks? Do you feel the need to announce them, like I just did? I take blogging breaks and announce them so that no one worries about what has become of me. Seems polite to do so. Enjoy your time away.
Hello Ally. I had to Google how far from Ohio to Florida just now. Over a thousand miles is a pretty good jaunt, I’d say.
I too like to announce my breaks (unless they happen spontaneously). I’m not sure if anyone would notice a brief time away, but just in case…like you, I don’t want to worry anyone.
My daughter and her family lived in Charleston, SC for a few years then moved up to Norfolk, VA. When they moved back to Indiana, we moved south to be closer to all the kids!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
That’s great that you could move closer to the children, Marsha. We were blessed to have all of our children and grandchildren within about 10-15 miles all the time our grandchildren were growing up. Recently, we’ve moved almost 300 miles away to enjoy the beauty and warmer temps of Southern Utah. We still make frequent visits to the Greater Salt Lake area to see the children, and they have started to come down here occasionally to enjoy the swimming pool…and Grandma and Grandpa’s company, I’m sure.
pc and I are not big on doing things with friends. We do, as you know, most everything together. and then throw in family quite often. I feel I get plenty of socialization though. and need that down time away from people to recharge.
as far as announcing a logging break, I seem to have technology issues that impose brakes on me, whether I like it or not. struggling with one right now. makes me wonder if I should even continue. Hope you are enjoying your time away.
I can relate to socializing mostly with family, Leslie. While we do have a few couples we go out with periodically, most of our socializing is with family as well…including this time around. First my sister visited, then three of the granddaughters and a DIL, and currently a daughter, SIL, and great grandbaby.
I’m sorry you are struggling with the blogging technology right now. That’s always a challenge for me when problems occur. I do work with a paid consultant on matters of security, SEO, and speed. I couldn’t do it without her. If you’re ever interested, check out blogaid.net.
I hope you enjoy your family time! We popped up to Syracuse NY (from Florida) last month for a quick family visit and to celebrate my great-niece’s graduation from high-school. My family is spread across 3 states so we don’t see each other that often – we text or call at least once a week.
Interestingly, I don’t announce a blogging break…although if I was going to be away for more than 2 weeks, I might…so people would not worry! I try and post weekly, but sometimes struggle for anything to say.
I do notice when my regulars (the people who show up in my inbox every week) don’t post for a bit…and sometimes wonder if they are OK. Some have simply faded away from blogging, but I do appreciate when they formally tell me/us that.
We did have a wonderful time with all the family, Pat. And now like a true introvert, I am enjoying the peace and quiet of some alone time. Don’t you love technology for keeping in touch with family spread far and near?
Like you, there have been times when I’ve taken a spontaneous blogging break without announcing it. If I take a planned break, I like to let people know. I’m sure most wouldn’t really notice a week or two, but then there are those who do and even reach out to ask if I’m okay.
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!! Oddly, all my family is right here….So I really have not traveled anywhere to see family… I also do not like to take a blogging break because I find that I have a hard time getting back into the swing of things when I do….I hope you are enjoying the Summer but staying cool!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
That’s lovely that your family is all close by, Deb. We count our blessings that our children and grandchildren were all within a 15-minute drive while the little ones were growing up. Now that the grandchildren are old enough to come see us, we decided to move about 300 miles away where the weather is a little more pleasant. And by pleasant, I mean warmer in the winter. To be honest, it’s a little too warm for my liking at the moment…but that’s what the pool is for!