Connecting With Kindness
December 21, 2024
As the holiday season and end of the year draw near, it’s a natural time for reflection. We think about what we’ve accomplished, our challenges, and how we want to approach the new year. It’s also a perfect time to focus on something easily overlooked in the daily rush of life: the people around us. Our relationships are at the heart of what makes our lives meaningful. And there’s no better opportunity to reach out and nurture those personal and professional connections than during the holidays.
Whether you send a heartfelt note or pick up the phone and call a friend, colleague, or old acquaintance, your kindness can go a long way. Being thoughtful is not just thinking about someone, it's letting them know that you are too.
In the professional world, it's all too easy to wait until there's a need to reach out, be it for a new project, a business need, or a question. But what about connecting simply to reconnect? Now is an opportune time to send a quick message to someone you’ve worked with, whether they are a colleague, client, or industry contact. It doesn't have to be a long conversation or a deep dive into work, but personalizing a note relays an authenticity to your message.
Reaching out to acknowledge someone’s contribution is a powerful gesture with lasting benefits. It’s a meaningful way to reconnect with those you’ve been out of touch with, making future requests feel more natural and less like a favor. Beyond that, it brings the immediate reward of feeling good about genuinely engaging and nurturing both current and past connections.
On the personal side, reaching out during the holidays is a thoughtful way to reconnect with people you care about but don’t always prioritize, such as an old friend or distant relative. It’s easy to think, “It’s been too long,” or “It might be awkward to reach out now.” But the truth is, those are excuses for doing something kind, and kindness outweighs awkwardness. Imagine how you would feel if someone you cared about spontaneously reached out or sent a card out of the blue just to say they are thinking of you, wishing you well, and sending their best for the year ahead. I know I'd feel grateful for the gesture.
Consider reconnecting with those who’ve had a meaningful impact on your life or those who matter most to you but with whom you’ve lost touch. Whether you pick up the phone or send a thoughtful note to a friend, colleague, or mentor, your effort to let them know how much you value and appreciate them is what really matters. Grand gestures aren’t necessary—just good ol' fashioned kindness is all it takes.
As you put the final touches on your holiday preparations, don't forget to nurture your personal and professional relationships. After all, ‘tis the season for embracing the joy of rekindling and embracing others while connecting with kindness.