Years before the pandemic sent the world into lockdown and facilitated the global acceptance of remote work, I decided that my best future was in living as a digital nomad.
I was wrong.
Since the pandemic, it’s been easy to do everything from the comfort of your home.
Work. Yoga classes. Fitness classes. Meetings. Co-working. Conferences. Retreats.
Remote work has its benefits and it’s place. Virtual events can be a lifeline when you can’t travel far, and they can open us to new teachers and ideas.
But there’s a cost to virtual, and a missed opportunity when we only work remotely.
Especially when it comes to connections.
Is it possible to make friends and create strong relationships online?
Yes. Absolutely.
And also: there’s no substitute for in-person meetings and connection.
Eating a meal with someone face to face at the same table. Walking side by side. Sitting in the same room.
This is the cornerstone of real relationships.
Seeing more of a person than just from the neck up helps us see more of who they are. When you can see the whole person you can truly see them.
There’s no virtual substitute for a hug or a hand on the back or the subtleties of body language.
Synchronous conversations are more effective — in person you can discuss twice as many ideas in half the amount of time.
Most important, relationship bonds are forged more deeply in person.
Every time I meet up with someone in person to connect I am reminded that virtual and remote are poor substitutes for in person meet ups.
For the things that matter most, it’s worth the effort to get out of the house and show up to meet face to face.
[…] And we can be seen more fully — giving us the ability to make a bigger impact. […]