"Mom, I don't mind if I don't get any presents. It's all about being together!"
Cameron, 7
Even though he had recently snooped under the tree, where several parcels with his name attached had already been placed, I don't doubt his sincerity! Those big brown eyes understood something: The holidays are a time for connecting.
There have been lots of great posts on Facebook this week that also speak to the importance of connecting with family and friends. Here is a great one:
"Happy New Year Friends and Family! I wish you health, happiness and peace. Hug your family tight, tell them how much you love them every day. Let your friends know how thankful you are to have them in your life ... as I am, that you are in mine! Thank you :-)"
- Faye Del Grande, Access Fitness
Holiday letters and cards still arrive in the mail with regularity (although not in the quantities they did in years past) and I always enjoy catching up with a family "brag rag" or getting a quick scribbled note on a simple card. It means someone included our family in their thoughts and wishes. That is "a good thing," as Martha Stewart would say.
So how do the "warm fuzzies" related here help your health? Well, there is a body of research that suggests that those who have a good network of friendships, enjoy a wide range of health benefits including:
- 22% greater life expectancy
- lower levels of a protein known to be associated with aggressive cancers
- tools to combat stress (friends to assist, provide information, materials and emotional support)
- less risk of cardiovascular problems, immune disorders, and the common cold!
So reach out, accept warm regards at face value, and enjoy connecting with friends and family. We are all victims of chronic busy lives, and wish we could 'be in touch' more often so if the holidays are the excuse (or the reason) to get in touch, then great! Embrace it, and celebrate every "warm fuzzy" sentiment that comes your way!
One final quote, from an old friend I hadn't heard from in years...
Holly days, icicle nights
Down-blanket snowfields beckoning for boots and giggles.
Steaming mugs, warming hearthfires, comfort and joy.
Wishing you a sparkling holiday season and a New Year overflowing with all you love best---
J. M., Ohio
Thank you! And Happy New Year!
We'll talk soon!
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