Main Lesson of 2024

Engage in that which respects you. If there is one lesson I have learned this year, it’s this one. We get to choose with whom and what we interact. We need not respond to every text, every phone call, or message we receive. I once believed I must respond to everything that came my way, until I realized in doing so I was disrespecting myself and I had a choice. We get to decide how much respect we expect in all of our relationships. Chances are, if you are anything like me, you have engaged with disrespectful messages, all in the name of being a valuable friend or family member.

If an interaction hasn’t felt healthy to you, reach out and make an effort to remedy the dynamic face-to-face. Refuse the temptation to try to fix it over text or email. If you are long distance, extend the invitation to FaceTime or Zoom with that person. We have lost a lot of face-to-face connection in this age of technology, and it will continue to erode our relationships if we don’t fight for these vital interactions. 

Before responding to a message, let’s first ask ourselves: Is this a respectful message with which I want to engage? If it isn’t, let’s make our best attempt to have face-to-face conversation.  Sometimes these conversations will not change anything, and other times people will be unwilling to engage in this capacity.  There are instances when we will have to limit our responses and engagement to those that are respectful.

It can be difficult to change unhealthy dynamics, but it is possible. If you feel like you can’t make the changes for yourself, do it for your kids. Let’s teach our children the importance of addressing concerns face-to-face, and if they aren’t able to resolve these issues, teach them to only respond to messages that are respectful and kind.