Hello Loves,
August was a beautiful month of connections.
I’ve been reading this amazing, thoughtful, and well-researched book called Platonic – How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends. Marisa G. Franco writes, “Connection fundamentally shapes who we are.” She has offered six proven practices that lead us to make and keep friends as an adult:
- Taking Initiative
- Expressing Vulnerability
- Pursuing Authenticity
- Harmonizing with Anger
- Offering Generosity
- Giving Affection
With this knowledge, I kicked it into high gear this summer, and took initiative to reach out and make connections. I arrived for a delicious dinner date with new friends and had engrossing conversations. Then I invited folks to a beach BBQ, and people came and went all day bringing tasty homemade foods and drink. We swam in the ocean, lounged on a picnic blanket under the shade of a willow tree, and caught up on our lives.
I volunteered at our local folk festival, and enjoyed working with a great team of people preparing the food for hundreds of volunteers all weekend. And after that I filmed my choir’s first performance at Pride and danced along side them (I had a cold and couldn’t sing).
I took up the offer to be a guest at a writers group, and we wrote for hours then went for lunch. We talked about our book writing process and challenges and careers. Hanging out with writers is so nourishing. Then I had a visit with cousins, and went out to eat and to the aquarium, which I hadn’t been to since I was a kid. It was so fun seeing all of the ocean creatures and being around children so inquisitive and happy.
All of these new connections and renewed connections felt like the perfect healing balm for my mind, body, and spirit, and I learned a lot about myself and others.
Keep being curious my friends.
