Stay in Contact With Your Family & Friends

In the previous hub we've covered the subject of spending time alone, which comes with multiple benefits. But being a hermit and spending 100% of your time by yourself isn't too healthy nor is it fun, this of course differs by people. Let's get into the benefits and what can be done to stay in contact with the people that are closest to you.

To quote a Disney animated character:

"Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten." - Lilo & Stitch

Rarely has an animated character been more right. Family are there for you through the good times and the bad times; no matter what the cause, and I would hope vice versa. These could either be biological parents, foster parents, guardians or none of the above even. Thus spending time with your family is always great. Not everyone has the traditional mom, dad and siblings household, but everyone has people they consider family.

As teenagers most of us tend to avoid spending time with our immediate families, puberty gave us the tendency to be more emotionally closed, to try to avoid showing affection especially towards our parents although our love for them is unmeasurable. A lot of us move out of our parent(s') homes to continue our studies or to go explore the world out there. This may be in the same town, city or country, but there are also cases when these growing young men and women move to completely different countries, continents or even hemispheres. Some may see this as a get out of jail free card, others as a jail sentencing. Since in these situations we can no longer spend our time with our families it is good to stay in contact with them. Here's Why:

Children that spend time with their parents participating in activities together build a positive sense of self-worth. When children feel that they are valued by their parents, they feel more positive about themselves. Of course after you move out, with all the challenges ahead of you, you're really going to need a self- esteem boost. Being away from them makes it a little harder to get that self- esteem boost you need. Thankfully we are in the 21st century, and we have multiple mediums with which we can stay in contact with our family members.

Being in a different country can have devastating effects on the family bond you've created thus far or have bountiful benefits for creating a stronger family bond. Them being so far makes them miss you and likewise, so however boring you may thing your story may be, it pays to tell them about it, via phonecall or skype. Your parents can teach you a thing or two on how to cope with whatever obstacle you may be facing and your sibling(s) can have a laugh at your misery, all while creating and/ or maintaining a strong family bond.

Living abroad in many cases means you'll be alone, bored and even lonely. Staying in contact with your family leads to a happier experience. Having them telling you how their day went and/or is going and vice versa will make you feel happier and will create nice memories. I'm almost certain someday you will look back at them and be that random person smiling by themselves in public. It will give you a warm feeling, and it'll probably a memory you'd be proud to tell your children someday.

As mentioned before; some may see leaving home as a get out of jail free card, for these particular lot, staying in contact with them is most beneficial. If you've moved away to get away from the controlling and strict parents it'll feel like breath of fresh air when you hear them asking you if you've eaten properly, or if you're cleaning your place et cetera. You'll miss them whether you like it or not, and finally come to understand why they've been so controlling all those years. For those that left with a damaged relationship, now would be the time to fix it, being so far, avoiding a fight during a discussion is easier than ever. Believe me, talking about whatever issues you might have had, makes you feel better to get it out of the way and stop holding grudges and it'll help you reconnect with parents or siblings alike.

Spending time with your friends is the best way to create memorable connections with people other than your family members. As teenagers or young- adults we tend to spend a lot of time with those acquaintances who grow to become friends in our lives. These are the people you share your secrets with, or count on instead of parents, or when parents or siblings don't seem to comprehend your predicament.

As we grow older, and our schedules get busier - the time we spend with our friends and confidants seem to become less current. You might not notice it at first but soon your hangouts at the local movie lot or park get replaced by school work. Your carefree weekends become busy, and the phone calls you used to make to your friends slowly turn into every other week, months or in some cases even years. Putting time aside for friends is unfortunately one of the first things to go when life gets hectic, and before you know it - you hardly know the person you used to call your best friend. While this is tragic, it's also preventable. Spending time with your friends is one of the few pleasures in life that cost very little, but brings bountiful rewards. It combats stress, it melts away cares of the world and makes you a happier and better person all around. I myself have had an abundance of good, close and best friends but over the years we've become more distant as we've gone our different ways whether it was educational or interests. But to this day the closest friends I've had and remained in contact with are those I met through youth organizations I've joined throughout the years. Five of which have become like brother from several other mothers to me.

Staying in contact with these groups of friends is crucial, no matter how far they might have moved, nor how far you may have moved from them. Nothing feels better than reconnecting with an old friend or having an all-night skype video conference with a group of friends.

Spending more time with your friends and family brings a lot of benefits for your mental well-being, as well as your relationships with these people. With friends and family good times are more bountiful and your sombre and gloomy moments are shared - so try not to overlook the importance of these connections in your life! Give them a call or send them a postcard!