In the last few years of my grandfather’s life, my dad spoke with him over the phone every day. My grandfather lived overseas in Hungary, and this was the main way that they stayed in touch. I am inspired by my father’s devotion to his father. I have not yet risen to this routine myself, but his example continues to call me forward into more frequent communication.
The lesson here is that rituals around communication strengthen social bonds. At a certain point in my coaching career, it struck me that I had regularly scheduled meetings with clients but none with family or friends. This insight led to a series of invitations and now part of my calendar is blocked off for deep conversations with friends. (If you’re someone in my family, know that this is coming your way.) I meet with one of my friends on Monday for a 30 minute phone call, with another on Friday for a 45 minute video call, and with a third for a quick 5-10 minute morning phone call on weekdays. Sometimes we postpone or miss a conversation, but these meetings are among the most enriching parts of my week.
This week I invite you to ask:
Who are the people who matter most to me? Who are the people with whom I have the most life-giving conversations? How well have I stayed in touch with these people? Which of them will I invite to become a recurring part of my week?
God bless,
Dan
