What relationships do you have that you might be overlooking, or maybe have become less connected with over time for some reason. Have you considered your siblings as a close connection? Have you thought about the fact that the sibling relationship is possibly the longest one you will ever have? It’s not always easy to be the one to make the first move, put out a bid, extend an olive branch, but the results can be amazing! You can be the one to ask if things can be made right or if time has gotten away from you—you can be the one to say, “Hey, it’s been too long!”

Start by evaluating your connections. Remember the 3 types? Collective, Relational and Intimate. Which do you need to strengthen? Which do you care most about? Be honest about your social habits. Do you want to strengthen existing friendships or make new ones? You might want to reach out to people you already know: the woman at the gym, or someone you remember from a group you were both in. Common interests are a great way to connect with others. Maybe you notice a fellow walker at the lake. Stop her one day and say hello! Your interest in walking might be your connection.

This type of connection is called a Collective Connection. It is with people you share an affiliation with or a similar belief or similar faith, such as a church membership. Maybe in the case of this group, it was the shared desire to find comfort or solve their loneliness problem …