February 3, 2025 - Find Strength & Confidence by Spending Time with Those Who Love You

I've been writing about ways for us to find strength and confidence and today I want to say one great way to do this is by spending time with those who love you. When you interact with people who love you, it will strengthen you and give you more confidence. So, make time to spend with others - and do something fun together! Play a game together (I recommend Abducktion - a weirdly stragetic game of duck kidnapping - yes, it is an odd name for a game, but it is a LOT of fun!) Rid bikes, take a walk through a park together, or do something fun like bowling! Make something with the ones you love. February is The Great American Pie Month and National Bake for Family Fun Month - so make a pie together - a fun and tasty way to spend time together for sure!

I found an article about ways we benefit from spending time with people who love us and will share some of it with you - if you want to read the article, you will find it at this link.

• Strong social connections are a cornerstone of mental health. Engaging in meaningful interactions with loved ones can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. This is because social interactions stimulate the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone.” Oxytocin is known for promoting feelings of happiness, trust, and bonding, which, in turn, reduce stress and enhance well-being. 
• One study published in Genus found people who regularly spend time with friends and family report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Having a strong support system provides a psychological buffer against life’s inevitable challenges. People who are surrounded by friends and family tend to feel more secure, optimistic, and grounded, which leads to improved mental health.
• Regular social engagement helps reduce levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can weaken the immune system when elevated for prolonged periods. By keeping cortisol levels in check, social bonds help strengthen the body’s ability to fight infections and ward off illnesses. 
• A study from Science journal revealed people with strong social connections are less likely to develop cardiovascular diseases. Being surrounded by a supportive network of loved ones can help reduce blood pressure, lower heart rate, and decrease inflammation—all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

So, not only is spending time with those who love you a fun thing to do, it is truly good for you! As I've said before, don't let the stress of what is happening around us push you away from the people who love you. If you have people who love you in your life, then hold on to them! Spend time with them! Let them know how much you appreciate and love them!

Once again today I want to send you my virtual "hug" - You matter. You deserve to be loved and are loved - I love you! You make our world a better place - we need you in this world. I hope you have people around you who tell you these things, but if not, please let me be someone who does. Yes, I say this every day, but these words are true and will always be so. You will find the video at this link.