We all know that having lots of warm, personal relationships, whether with family or friends, is the key to our health and happiness. Relationships are strong living connections between two people. They need to be intentionally fed and cared for if we expect them to thrive. This involves connecting with people in person, by phone or dropping them a note. Your friends need to know that you truly care about them. While electronic communication makes it possible for us to exchange information with large numbers of people rapidly, it falls short when it comes to the caring and feeding of personal relationships. That’s because maintaining strong relationships is a “high touch,” not a “high tech” activity. I recommend spending time each week to touch some of the people on your “relationship list” just to check in and ask how they’re doing. If you do, your relationships will remain strong and vibrant, which means you and your friends will be happier and healthier.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” — Helen Keller
• “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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