How to Make Long Distance Shorter
Because closing the distance between your loved ones is wellness.
🎉 Happy Friday, Friends!
How many of you have loved ones across state (and even country) lines? As we get older and our lives become more spread out and more established, it's natural to find yourself miles away from friends and family. Many of us moved with partners, or watched our connections do the same. Others have moved away for jobs and opportunities, or to escape problematic situations.
Keeping your friends and family close - whether it's physical or emotional proximity - is wellness. Having a support network that can be there for you is an excellent way to support your health and community at the same time!
So that's why, today, I'm sharing six ways I keep my faraway friends and family close.
🎁 Keeping mementos that remind me of them
They can be small mementos, like hospital bands, ticket stubs, or even a stolen lighter. A few times a year, I'll send those items through the mail. Usually, it's just because I love and miss them, but also if they’re going through a particularly hard time. What would it be like to receive a reminder of your mother from a sibling when things feel challenging?
💬 Word of the Week
Sometimes, there's no time for a full conversation or rundown on what's going on. Try choosing a day of the week when you and your loved one will share one word that sums up the week. When it doesn't spiral into a conversation (text or otherwise), you at least get a little pulse on how your pal is doing.
♫ Shared Playlists, Pinterest Boards, or Notes
Think of these as collaborate scrapbooks! Nothing says "I care" like sharing a song, image, or quote that reminds you of someone. There are plenty of platforms where you can include all of the above in one place, too! Plus, then you end up with a big collection of testaments to your friendship. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, it just has to be a collection of stuff you both love.
💻 Asynchronous Sessions
When you both have downtime but might not be up for a call every week, try listening to the same album, podcast, or watching the same media and discuss later. Not only do you eventually discuss (and it doesn't have to be a phone call - remember, you can always text or send a postcard), you'll be thinking of each other as you view your selection.
🎤 Sending voice notes
Voice notes are a closer representation of an in-person conversation than texting, but without the time commitment of a phone call. Plus, you can replay them when you miss someone! They don’t always go through in a timely manner (I of the Androids, and they of the iPhones...). But I love to fill folx in on neighborhood gossip, discussions of my cat’s napping or playtime habits, my errands, updates on the nonfiction books I’m reading, birds or other wildlife sightings. These day-to-day updates add up to a lot when it comes to building and maintaining connection in relationships.
📝 Cards and Stickers
Next time you see a postcard or sticker in a bookshop, pick it up to send to a friend! I send these mostly just because I’m thinking of them, with no special occasion in mind. An unexpected delivery from USPS is so delightful to receive and I get joy just knowing they don’t know it’s coming. 🙂 Plus, handwriting is so personal! Way better than a text.
I hope these inspire you to bring your faraway people a little closer today. It doesn't have to be a flight or a full catch-up. Sometimes, it can just be what works for you right now.
With you in the global village,
Dana