While cleaning up my computer this week, I found an article I saved from 2019. Given all the things that have transpired since, it seems so long ago, but I found it to be an excellent guide for the times we are in. It’s called 25 Things by Kim Quindlen. It’s just what you imagine it to be. It’s a list of 25 to-dos, but they are all in service of living a better and more connected existence.

Here are a few:

* Turn your phone to silent before you share a meal with someone you care about.
* Talk to someone you trust when you’re in pain, even if it’s what you consider a ‘small pain.’
* Do everything in your power to be considerate of and aware of other people.

It’s never been more important to be connected. Find your people. Keep your people close. Care for one another. But not just your people; let’s care for everyone. I was listening to a talk from Tara Brach, and she advocated for being proximate to one another. We learn about each other by being in conversation and relationship with our neighbors and community. We learn how to understand one another. Getting out of the virtual world and into the real world outside our front doors has never been more critical.

This means that we need to lean in. Talk to someone when you are in pain, and listen to others when they are. But not just in difficult times; we talk to each other when we are in joy. Share enjoyment and gratitude. 

The list goes on and encourages reading a book a month. I am on board with that goal, especially in comparison to those who read a book a week. Even if I didn’t have a full-time job, I seriously doubt I could read a book a week. I love to read, but the pressure of it all freaks me out a bit.

These 25 things got me thinking that maybe it’s a good time to make a list—something to anchor us to ourselves. We are in chaotic times, but we can cultivate clarity and focus within ourselves. 

Creating a list of our own can be helpful. Some may be “all-the-time things,” such as being considerate and aware of others, reading regularly, and maintaining contact with friends. Others will ebb and flow. 

As we move toward spring, you may plant a garden or grow a butterfly flower haven. Summer may be the perfect time for lemonade and early morning walks with a friend. 

Create a list that speaks to you and, simultaneously, ask yourself: does this help me connect? Is this growing my circle wider? 

Ideally, our list should comfort us and nudge us out of our usual habits. This is how we grow and expand our sphere. It’s what we most need right now.