When you think of a support system, what might come into your mind is your hang-out sessions in McDonald’s with your friends after class or ranting about your day with your gals while on the way home. They are reassuring. Did they make you feel worthy? But what happens when suddenly, we become restricted to interact with people physically? How do we adjust to that abrupt reality?
When President Rodrigo ‘Roa’ Duterte announced enhanced community quarantine on March 17, 2020, throughout the island of Luzon, people were obliged to stay at home. One of the things that were taken away from us is our ability to connect with people physically. We have lost sense of touch and we had to be contented and dependent on the four corners of our room.
However, this did not stop us from engaging with our friends and the people around us. Social media platforms have made it easier to keep sane and be updated with our friends’ personal and professional lives even in the middle of a global crisis.
This only proves that even though the pandemic is not all rainbows and sunshine, it made us more thoughtful and supportive of our friends and we are loving it more than ever. Friends are an important element of a strong support system. And to be able to strengthen our own, here are some ways which you can ensure and start doing now:
Do not hesitate to reach out to your friends
Start reaching out. You’ll never know if you’ll never try. Maybe you can start with a simple wave then ask them how are they doing. Know your common interest and talk about it. When you’re comfortable, phone calls and video chats are also helpful.
Acknowledge their bad days
Your friends are not perfect. They will have bad days and if you can, be there with them. Ask them if they only want someone to listen to their stories or if they want a piece of advice. Make them feel that they’re not alone and they matter.
Establish a stronger bond with them
Celebrate your small wins with each other too! A friendship will grow if both of you are willing to work on it. Invite them in a get-together, set plans, and make the most out of it. Consider going out over coffee, share any stories that you are comfortable sharing, and acknowledge them for making time in hanging out with you.
Now that Metro Manila and other 47 areas are under Alert Level 1, we have the freedom to go out with our friends and do the things that we were limited to doing for the past two years. To be able to strengthen our support system during the pandemic is a must because sometimes, our friends serve as our light in the deepest moments of darkness. They extend their hand and make sure that we are capable of reaching them.
What about you? How do you make sure you spend time with your support system?
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