Thanks for being a guinea pig for The Reliants Project newsletter! Whether you want to:
Build your relationships more deliberately,
Make better introductions, or
Activate networks to make an impact in the world,
I’ll share useful nuggets about how networks shape your wellbeing, relationships and community in order to help you reach your goals.
Wellbeing
Sadly, COVID-19 Is Making America's Loneliness Epidemic Even Worse and this trend is certainly not confined to the US. We are social animals and our need to connect with others is as important to our health as sleep, a nutritious diet or regular exercise. It’s also important to remember that just because someone is not alone, it doesn’t mean someone is not lonely. Lonely partnerships are all too common and can be a counterintuitive way to experience social isolation.
“According to surveys, some 40 percent of people know the pain of being lonely in relationship because they’ve been there at some point.”
Relationships
In Quarantined With a Newborn, Alone, Tanzina Vega is openly vulnerable about how the pandemic has exposed the fragility of her social network. Vega is a popular radio host of The Takeout on New York Public Radio and did not expect to be the last among her reliants standing when the music stopped during social isolation musical chairs.
“But the pandemic has highlighted just how fragile my social networks really are, which, as a public figure and radio host who’s had her name and face splashed across billboards and tote bags, is something that’s hard to admit.”
Community
We are facing the possibility of a social recession, where the need for physical distancing is driving an increase in social isolation. Just like a financial recession, this has the biggest impact on society’s most vulnerable - individuals that don’t have a safe home or on the wrong side of the digital divide. Early research suggests that communities with higher social capital are better able to weather the pandemic. Robert Putnam defines social capital as “features of social organizations, such as trust, norms, and networks, that can improve the efficiency of society by facilitating coordinated actions”. The conclusions of this study suggest that,
“...stable and vibrant communities are not luxuries, but important priorities for managing emergencies. Investing in social capital and interpersonal relationships helps us manage negative shocks and retain levels of interconnectedness and well-being.”
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About The Reliants Project
Reliant is my word for a person that someone depends on, an essential component of our social networks. With each edition, I’ll share useful nuggets about how networks shape your wellbeing, relationships and community to help you actively cultivate yours.
You can find more about The Reliants Project here.