Common Sense Home Good News Letter 1/3/26

It was such a blessing to be able to return to a more "normal" routine - being outside in the bitingly cold air, hearing the happy chatter of the ducks and chickens, feeling the velvety softness of feathers as we gather up the ducks for snacks and snuggles at bedtime. It's not a Caribbean vacation, or a trip to Europe, but every time I interact with those exuberant little critters, it brings me joy.

As I was forced to stay off my feet this past week with a sprained ankle, my thoughts drifted to friends dealing with more long term health conditions that keep them from their daily routines. I think that being unable to do what we normally do and having so much out of our control when dealing with illness (or injury) likely contributes to a great portion of our stress during these times. It brings into stark relief the importance of social connections.

Though I was stuck inside, I could trust my sons to cover things I couldn't do. I was chomping at the bit to get back to "normal", but I didn't have the added stress of having to push myself when I shouldn't. Or the stress of absolutely not being able to do things and wondering how they would get done.

Studies show that those with positive social connections heal faster and have better long term outcomes for both illness and injury. Some examples from Harvard Health:

Heart attack survivors scoring high on tests of social isolation and stress were four times more likely to die during the three years after their attacks than those with dense social networks and little stress.
Older people with little or no emotional support who were hospitalized with heart failure had triple the risk of having a heart attack or dying in the next year as those with good support. The impact of loneliness was stronger in women than men.
In a survey of 229 Chicagoans, blood pressure averaged 30 points higher among lonely people than among those who weren't lonely.
Swedish men preparing for bypass surgery who agreed with the statement "I am lonely" were twice as likely to have died within five years of surgery as those who weren't lonely.

Society may tell us we need to be strong and independent, or push icons like the "lone wolf prepper", but humans are by nature interconnected. It’s often the people around us who make the biggest difference in our lives.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

Check in on someone quietly. A short text, note, or call that says “thinking of you” can be deeply stabilizing — for both of you.
Practice asking for help early. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed or injured; letting others step in builds stronger systems of care.
Strengthen one practical connection. Swap chores, share a ride, trade food, or coordinate backups — resilience grows through cooperation.
Notice who has your back. Take a moment to acknowledge the people you rely on, and thank them out loud or in writing.
Release the myth of doing it all alone. Independence has its place, but interdependence is what carries us through illness, injury, and hard seasons.

True resilience isn’t isolation — it’s knowing you’re supported, and being willing to support others in return.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)