It’s been a while.
When the world shut down, so did my relationships.
I fell out of practice.
Survival, stress, and a focus on tasks and solving problems took the main stage.
I got rusty.
New habits formed: isolating habits that didn’t include the same connection as before.
It was a long, but subtle shift.
From less, to more, to loss.
Less phone calls, less fun, less light-hearted conversations.
Less time WITH others.
Less time FOR others.
Less.
When there is less, something will fill that void.
More negativity, more urgency, more stress, more vigilance, more protection mode, more burn-out.
The results were loss.
Loss of connection.
Loss of friends.
Loss of time.
Loss.
The best way to describe where I am today is a state of Relational Atrophy .
Weaker, out of practice, easily tired, and doing simple things are much harder.
Understanding and acknowledging this Relational Atrophy helps.
Finding a way forward is next.
Similar to exercise, this process won’t happen overnight.
It might take some time for these muscles to remember.
Small steps.
Apologies.
Invites to get coffee.
Invites to connect.
Invites to get gelato.
Phone calls.
Texts.
Scheduling time for others.
Scheduling time WITH others.
Time.
Those relational muscles will return.
New habits will form.
Take a moment to think about how these past few years impacted you and your relationships.
How has Relationship Atrophy impacted you?
Where have you fallen out of practice with others?
How can you take one step today to flex those relationship muscles?
The good news is we might not be alone, and we can try moving forward together.
One more idea – schedule time under the tree. Let me know, I will make the coffee.
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Carl Weber Consulting 