I did something that I didn't think was possible right now. I enjoyed happy hour and I cooked dinner with my friends! And it was exactly what I needed.
There are a lot of ways we can connect with friends and family in the age of technology. I've used FaceTime and Facebook Messenger in the past. We're connecting through Microsoft Teams while we work from home. That's really just the tip of the iceberg, as I am learning (don't say "okay Boomer" because I'm a proud member of Gen X.) The technology is definitely there. But I haven't taken advantage of these tools for an entirely different reason.
I haven't been able to connect because I just don't feel that great about our current situation. I am normally Polly Positive. However I haven't felt like being the cheerleader my friends have become accustomed to being around. As a result, I've declined many invitations to connect. Until now. And it turns out that this Zoom conversation with my people was EXACTLY what I needed. Seeing their faces. Hearing their voices. We had to log back in 3 times because we had exceeded the time limit! What started as a "virtual happy hour" turned into a much needed conversation about life. While two of us were fixing a meal, the other pretended to do so for my photo opp, when really she was stepping out to take a run (show off). If I went on a virtual run with her, that means I also went running, right?
My point is simple. Find a way to connect. Especially when you DON'T think you have it in you to chat. I promise you'll feel better. See below for a list of chat tools you can use. I swear I knew about all of them before I went to Google.