From Forwards to Feelings: Rekindling Real Connections!

My eyes fluttered open to the familiar chime of my phone—New Year wishes pouring in like clockwork. It’s a ritual now, isn’t it? A brief flurry of messages lighting up our screens, each carrying borrowed words from some random forwarded image. It reminded me of a different time, a time when New Year’s Eve was more than just a digital interaction.

Back then, celebrations were a mosaic of heartfelt efforts. We planned weeks in advance—shopping for gifts, baking treats, writing cards with carefully chosen words for the countless relatives and friends who mattered to us. It wasn’t a chore; it was a joy, a shared emotional investment that brought warmth and meaning to our connections.

Fast forward to today, where our “connections” are often reduced to silent memberships in WhatsApp groups. Groups that only awaken on special occasions with a cascade of recycled greetings. For the rest of the year? Silence. We don’t know what’s going on in each other’s lives. Is someone struggling? Are they okay physically, emotionally, financially? We don’t ask. Instead, we hit “forward,” add a smiley face, and move on.

I’m not trying to judge—after all, I’ve been part of this same cycle for years. But as someone who has witnessed over 40 New Year’s, I can’t help but wonder: what’s the point of these groups if we hardly interact? Where are the family and friends who used to show up uninvited, armed with nothing but their presence and a promise of support?

I remember a time when a whispered word about someone feeling low was enough to summon an army of care—aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors—people who would simply sit beside you, letting their presence remind you that you weren’t alone. And they meant it. Today, such solidarity feels like a relic of a bygone era.

We live in a time of social unrest, familial fragmentation, and emotional detachment. Is it any wonder that mental health issues are skyrocketing? The very bonds that anchored us are now fragile threads, stretched thin by apathy and convenience.

So, this year, I’m making a resolution. No more playing the passive observer in relationships that truly matter. I want to call, meet, laugh, argue, share—or even just sit in silence—with the people who mean something to me. To let them know I’m here. Because when all is said and done, the rest—those perfectly curated texts, glossy images, and fleeting digital interactions—is just noise.

Real connections don’t need filters or forwards. They need us to show up. And that’s exactly what I intend to do…How About You?😊

How About You??