That feeling you get when you’re around people with whom you have connection.

Today, I’m at a live, in-person conference for the first time since 2019.

Finally.

Last night, I got together with colleagues I’ve been working with for the past 3 years.

It was the first time most of us had met in person, and it was so great to see each other, for real.

We’ve been using communications technology to engage at a distance for a long time now. It didn’t start in 2020. You haven’t forgotten conference calls, have you? They were the norm for a couple decades.

But when Covid hit, it accelerated us further away from any kind of a personal touch. Admittedly, many of the technologies we use now are pretty effective.

But I still crave real togetherness.

As pandemic times settle into the rear view mirror, coming together is still as important as ever for building connections and meaningful relationships.

And although there are tangible cost and convenience benefits to virtual engagement, I don’t think it should be viewed as a replacement.

We’re still human after all.

And I definitely crave that feeling of being united with others in friendship and understanding.

So if you’re responsible for making change happen, remember how important togetherness can be, and cultivate opportunities to facilitate it.

And when it’s not possible to come together for real, foster as much of the feeling that you can.

Have a great weekend!