This quiet time between Christmas and New Year’s gives us the opportunity to do some evaluating or soul searching, which ever you like to call it. I read a list of things that happy people do differently than "others", (I guess the others are unhappy people).
One of the items on the list was “nurture social relationships”. I’m sure there are lots of ways to label our relationships, but I think all of them are worth nurturing. When I think back on holidays, birthdays and other gift giving opportunities, I rarely remember what material thing I got, but I always remember who was with me and what we did together. I think laughing, hugging, singing, cooking, telling stories and making memories are my favorite gifts. I feel very rich when I try to tally a list of how many of those things I got this year, or last. I just grin at conjuring up the details of a special friend’s visit, or a family gathering for a retirement celebration, or even the seldom seen friends and relatives who show up for a funeral.
I feel so lucky to have a very full dance card when it comes to people who matter to me. So if nurturing relationships is something happy people do, then I gratefully acknowledge that I am happy. And, I intend to stay that way.