Envisioning Possibilities
Relationships
At the location on the Bagua board, relationships are personal, intimate, and passionate, my vision board I had a hole.
My 52-year-long relationship with a marvelous man died when he did. I discovered that having a husband who was also my best friend did not leave a space for many others and years of walking with Alzheimer’s scared many of our old friends away. What was there to talk about with a friend who no longer recognized you, let alone talk about a mutual topic? My world became smaller, limited to a great daughter and a mentally missing husband.
I needed to find friends, and still do. Here is a suggested list from AI on how to turn strangers into friends. It’s a good one. I am grateful.
Turning strangers into friends is like crafting a masterpiece, requiring patience, creativity, and genuine care. Here are some tried-and-true methods:
Initiate Conversation:
Break the ice with a warm smile and a friendly greeting. A simple “hello” can open the door to a meaningful connection.
Find Common Ground:
Look for shared interests, experiences, or even a mutual location. Bonding over something familiar creates an instant sense of camaraderie.
Listen Actively
Show genuine interest in the other person’s story. Listen attentively, ask follow-up questions, and validate their experiences.
Offer Help or Support
Extend a helping hand or offer support when needed. Kindness strengthens bonds and demonstrates your willingness to be a reliable friend.
Be Authentic
Be true to yourself and let your personality shine. Authenticity is magnetic and attracts like-minded souls.
Be Patient
Building meaningful connections takes time. Be patient and allow the friendship to unfold naturally.
Positive Emotions
Positive emotions help us flourish
PERMA
Positive Psychology
Sleep
Sleep A good night's sleep. The recommendations come from research conducted by Dr. Marty Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania. Simple solution Write a minimum of three things you were grateful for during the day. Those things can be people who gave you...
Abundance
Image by John Hain from Pixabay Abundance Filling your mind and mine with positive thoughts . The law of abundance Gratitude fills my heart as I acknowledge the transformative power within me as I attract abundance. I am thankful for the abundant...
How I met your father
I know this is early but I wanted to share it now. I’m a member and president of Lehigh Valley Toastmasters this year. One of our members, John, signed up to be a speaker on Valentine’s Day on the 14th of February. John asked me to write about how I met Jerry.
Insanity
image by robinsonk26 from Pixabay Solving problems "We can't solve the same problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them". …Albert Einstein A spin-off of the definition of insanity. I can remember sitting in my office as the...
These are promising ideas. I can only imagine what it must have been like to have a loved one and Alzheimer’s. Yet I agree — there is always someone we are yet to meet!