Face to Face
Fourth of July is here and for most that means half-day Fridays, school vacation, summer holidays, long weekends and Memorial Day-to-Labor Day friends and rituals. East coast summers are treasured since they are fleeting and spectacular, where summer comes to us and there’s little reason to not take advantage of the beauty and playtime afforded to us on the east end.
We attribute all kinds of factors to explain the collective jovial mood of summer, longer days, strong sunshine, white linen (here’s looking at you Lewis), dining and cooking Al fresco, hours in the water and plenty of downtime. Most of all we are connecting with one another, an undercurrent we take for granted or at the very least do not realize that this explains why this time is so cherished. Imagine a summer where everything is wonderful except the there is an absence of those close to you in your daily activities. Summer immediately can feel lonely and boring. It’s those we care about spending time with that is the real nectar of the season. And just as effortless, our time spent connecting in person is a ritual we can be implementing all year long, even when we are not in summer mode.
Chances are you’re having a BBQ or going to dinners with real people not alone and scrolling on social media. You are surfing with surfers and not texting them on a wave. You are sitting in a restaurant or at the beach with someone not on alone on facetime. Have you noticed that a short time spent in person with friends and family is exponentially more gratifying, memorable and fun than through a device? That in-person interaction is interpersonal gold, and we need to do more of it.
While we are truly are so busy and have competing responsibilities and priorities that limit our time to connect, it is vital to our health and well-being to prioritize people. Humans. In person. Even a quick walk with someone you need to catch up with or meeting a friend for that coffee you usually grab or go on a surf check with a buddy, squeeze in the social time when you can. That psychological and social boost lasts longer than a remote chat. Social time is a pillar of longevity and usually we are thankful for the time when we make the effort. Notice this summer how integrated it is to your summer and how happy you may feel because of it. Maybe this can be a practice all year long.