How to make connections that matter this season
This season is an exciting one but it can also be lonely. It doesn’t have to be this way. Admittedly, for single people, this can be a time when the reality of being single hits a bit harder, but this time of year can also be a great time to make connections that matter. So, how can you make the most of this season? What kind of connections might you want to consider?
Focus on God
For starters, the most important connection one can make during this season is the one we have with God. Perhaps your relationship with God got a bit distant this past year, for whatever reason. Christmas is a good time to reconnect with Him.
Churches have a focus on welcome at this time of year. You could start by attending a carol service, or a Christmas day service at your local church. If you don’t want to go alone, you could go with a friend or even consider inviting a neighbour. You could also get a devotional and start daily Bible reading to draw closer to God and hear what He has to say to you this season.
Remember that the reason for the season is that God wanted to be close to us, so He sent His Son to come into the world. So, why not make reconnecting with Him a priority.
Seek out other people
Another important connection we can make is with friends. With the busyness of life, it can be easy to lose touch with people that we care about, but the holiday period allows us to take some time out and reconnect, if we choose to. There are many ways we can do this.
Sending someone a card to let them know you’re thinking of them, giving them a call or even just sending them a text message is a great way to reconnect.
If you can, you could arrange a meet up. Meeting up for coffee and cake, a drink, or just a walk and a chat (or whatever else you both fancy) are also great ways to reconnect with someone.
Connect with someone new
Why not consider making connections with new people? If you’re single, the festive season can be the perfect time to connect with other single people, either with the intention of meeting someone to date, or even just to build some new friendships.
If you’ve not tried online dating before, you could take the first step over the holiday period to create your online profile; think about what you might want people to know about you. Don’t be afraid of putting yourself out there; you’ll never know if you don’t try it!
Perhaps you’ve tried online dating before, and nothing has come of it so far. Why not take another look at your profile and see if it could do with sprucing up? What interesting things have you done lately that you might want to share? Have you taken up any new hobbies or interests? Travelled to anywhere exciting? Even if that were not the case, taking some time out during the holidays to review your profile could reveal things you might want to change or include.
Whether you look forward to the holidays as a time to rest, recharge, and eat lots of food, or are busy with commitments and non-stop activity, it’s a time when many of us are more open to change and newness. Making the most of the season will require some effort. Making connections that matter – our connection with God, friends and family and even new people – will enrich our lives and give us something to look forward to into the new year.
Read more blog posts about Christmas here
