February is Known for Relationships … by Delsora Lowe

One of the first things that comes to mind when February rolls around, besides it being one of our coldest months in the northeast, is Valentine’s Day. This is a celebration of that special love relationship between partners.

But there are other relationships, and other ways to build those relationships. 

Since the start of the pandemic a few years ago, and the rise in usage of social media and meeting apps, we now build new or rekindle old relationships virtually.

For example, my second cousins who I usually hear from around the holidays via a card, all got together on ZOOM to chat after my mom passed away. Mom was the conduit between all of us. Their mothers and my mom were best friends growing up in a small town. And later the three cousins married and moved to big cities. My mom to Washington, D.C. and my mother’s two cousins to New York City.

Us kids all saw each other in the summer when the “girls” (mom and her cousins) all met back in their tiny hometown west of NYC. They grew up a block away from each other. But we, the second cousins once removed, grew up, moved to various parts of the country and only stayed in touch through holiday cards or letters written to my mom. The ZOOM chat was the first time we’d seen each other face-to-face (electronically) in many years. In a way it was a bit unusual, as we were by now virtually strangers.  But in another way, the ZOOM gathering was wonderful to catch-up and talk about our parents and the times we spent together as children. And then to find out all we were doing now as adults with our own families.

All of us have dear friends, as well as relationships / friends in the workplace. In my professional life, as an author, I saw the state members of my local writing chapter, monthly for meetings.

 

But my state is large and many who live farther north or south, rarely attend monthly meetings. I joined my home chapter in 2004, so many are now close, close friends, as well as colleagues. And now, my local chapter also has many “long-distance” members from other states. Many are friends I have made over the internet and through personal meetings at conferences.

Some of those farther away are able to attend our state’s annual writing retreat, where we all spend the night in a hotel and attend workshops, writing sprints, and enjoying meals together. What a treat to see each other in person. Lots of hugging and chatting and sharing about writing—a truly inspiring weekend.

I belong, as a long-distance member to several out-of-state writing groups. The highlight each year, was traveling to other states to the writing conferences and seeing those I only saw once a year. But those conferences have gone by the wayside.

Enter ZOOM and other virtual media sites, and we are now able to see each other again. Granted, we are chatting to a bunch of small boxes with faces. But we are chatting real-time. And that has helped keep relationships going. And allowed us to build new relationships with people we haven’t met in person. It might not be the same as sitting down to a meal together, or chatting it up in the cocktail lounge, or at the conference table. But it is the next best thing to keeping our friendships and working relationships strong.

What tips do you have for building and maintaining relationships?

 

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Moonlighting-Serenity-Harbor-Novella-Starlight-ebook/dp/B075TK7KYS/

Books2Read

books2read.com/u/mZ5eop

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, and the novella The Love Left Behind, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Recently released were two Christmas stories: The Inn at Gooseneck Lane and Holiday Hitchhiker.

 

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

Photo Credits:
Writers: Free Writing Book Cliparts, Download Free Writing Book Cliparts png images, Free ClipArts on
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Heart: free hearts images - Google Search
Family: Free Clip Art Family, Download Free Clip Art Family png images, Free ClipArts on Clipart Library (clipart-library.com)
ZOOM: Zoom meeting free clip art - Google Search
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Laughing Friends: ladies laughing clipart - Clip Art Library (clipart-library.com)