A salty beach day with lots of kids, today leaves me in the wake of those connections. As we get older it is harder to connect. No more long school days where 90% of the day is spent on the why and how of who. No more band trips sitting in the bus for hours, walking Fisherman’s Warf with the same friends of many other scenarios. River trips with scanty supervision are conducive to creating bonds of friendship that might never be found again, in part because of opportunity. In part because of well, many other possible reasons. I’m sure you have some too.

Connections are healthy. We live longer and get sick less often when we are connected to others. And if you are someone who gets their energy from being alone or someone who gets energy from being with people, this still includes you. It’s a universal concept. My husband who is hardwired to love his alone time, spends hours connecting with his world through Twitter. Watching him swell with energy and joy through his connections has brought something healthy to our home as well.

Whatever our barriers are as we age to connecting, it is worth our while to press past those. Conversely, to try every day to open ourselves as well to the efforts pressing in is in our best interest. Maybe understanding something about those barriers in your life will give you the key to removing them. However you can do it, it’s worth it to you. Being friendly with yourself includes finding someone(s) to connect with.

Self Care Tip #9 – Connect. Be a friend to yourself.