I’m back! I was traveling for most of the month of July so had planned to take a week off from this little newsletter and keep it going while I was away. Truth be told, work and travel with family is hard so I decided to focus on the connection with the people around me rather than this for that period. But I’m home now and will resume the usual weekly schedule ;)
​

Here are 3 ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week 👇

This week’s ideas are very much inspired by being away and that break.

​

(1) Know your rhythms

Building connection takes significant mental and emotional energy, and that energy looks different online versus offline. Online connection, in particular, can be exhausting with all the noise and shiny distractions competing for our attention.

Protect that energy fiercely. When it's draining you, take a break—no apology needed. (The reality is, few people will even notice, and those who do will understand.)

​

(2) Know the seasons and their rhythms

I spent July in the UK and Ireland, and miraculously, the sun came out. It was a welcome respite from Australia's current winter chill. For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by seasons—and oddly drawn to whichever one I'm not in. Summer makes me long for winter's cocooning and winter has me craving summer's energy.

This year I was blessed to experience that seasonal shift, and it reminded me how we naturally adapt to different rhythms in the season we are in. I'm convinced that the ways we build communities and connection naturally flow with these same seasonal patterns. If you're curious about this idea, here's a fascinating article about how summer naturally draws us into collective experiences.

​

(3) Connection in your pocket

For as long as I can remember I've carried UNO cards in my handbag. Initially, it was a survival pack for what felt like long waits in cafes and restaurants with small children. But as my kids grew older, I discovered something unexpected: those cards became a bridge for social awkwardness when kids meet other kids, providing an instant shared activity.

Recently, I switched to carrying a standard deck of playing cards. Everyone—adults included—knows at least one card game they can teach. Teaching and showing off card tricks are also a fun way to alleviate the boredom and connect. There's a whole world of connection waiting in those 52 cards—and more importantly, it's entirely non-digital.

​

Until next week,

Anna

PS if you do know a good card trick do let me know.

​