Casual Relationships Provide Benefits

Following up on yesterday’s post about friendship, here’s an article from Kaiser Health News, Restoring a Sense of Belonging: The Unsung Importance of Casual Relationships for Older Adults. “These relationships with people we hardly know or know only superficially are called “weak ties” — a broad and amorphous group that can include anyone from your neighbors or your pharmacist to members of your book group or fellow volunteers at a school… [and]  many older adults are renewing these connections with pleasure after losing touch during the pandemic.”  These kinds of relationships have a positive impact on us. “These ties can cultivate a sense of belonging, provide bursts of positive energy, motivate us to engage in activities, and expose us to new information and opportunities — all without the emotional challenges that often attend close relationships with family and friends.” So next time you are out for a walk, say hi to the folks you pass on the street. It’s good for both of you!