Meaningful Social Relationships: Better than Broccoli

"No man is an island, 

Entire of itself, 

Every man is a piece of the continent."

(1692) John Dunne, poet

We're in modern times, so let's substitute "person" for "man", but you get the gist. 

The research is in. More than veggies, money or status, the ties that bind result in us living longer and healthier lives than our more socially isolated peers. Umberson & Montez (2010) Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint for Health Policy

Check out this short TED talk by Harvard Med School Prof, Robert Waldinger for a lively summary of the 75-year research study that shows that what connects us makes us stronger.

What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness | Robert Waldinger

I'll encourage you to go offline for these connections. Even the friendliest online chats lack what our human touch, tone of voice, rate of speech and non-verbal language add to getting to know someone better and enjoying our time together.

Good Company equals Good Living.

Depression: 16.2 million people say: "You're not alone."

Depression is a common mental condition.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health somewhere close to 16.2 million folks in the USA had at least one major depressive episode in 2016. 

That's a lot of fellow travelers.

One of the symptoms of depression is the distorted viewpoint that we are alone and helpless in our distress and pain. 

It just ain't so.

Take a moment to read the journey of the 2012 Olympic gold medal swimmer, Missy Franklin, who found support from a fellow gold medal Olympian swimmer, Michael Phelps.

It's a nice reminder that we are often in good company just when we need it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/sports/missy-franklin-swimming.html

Battling Pain Both Physical and Mental, Missy Franklin Finds Hope

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