Simple Everyday Ways I Strengthen My Bonds with Loved Ones

1. Hugs

One thing that really stands out when I’m with my family and friends is my sweetness.

You could ask them how often I say “I love you,” “take care,” or “be safe”—I tend to say it a lot, maybe even a bit too much sometimes!

Once I discovered how beneficial hugs are (from an article shared by my friends), I began giving hugs to my loved ones more frequently, as well.

According to the article, getting a hug does more than just feel nice—it actually lowers your stress, boosts your health, helps you fight off sickness, and, best of all, makes you happier.

That’s because hugging releases those “happy hormones” that lower your blood pressure and push stress away.

You won’t believe this, but I give my parents and sister goodnight hugs every night before they go to bed! Seriously, it feels like my night isn’t complete unless I give them those hugs.

It’s become a sweet little routine that I always look forward to! (Asians could relate more hehe)

2. Attention

I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but we actually have a family day once a month! Sometimes we hit up a restaurant, grab coffee, or go out for some fun together.

And if you’re my friend and invite me to do something else on family day, I’ll probably surely say, “Let’s plan for another time!”

I really want to give my family the attention they deserve.

However, family time doesn’t only happen outside our house. Did you know we still sit down together for lunch and dinner around the table?

It’s the usual time for us to share stories, talk about what’s going on, and even dish about the latest neighborhood gossip. LOL.

To make sure that we enjoy our time together more, I even put my phone away and chat with them like it’s the year 2000!

3. Pictures

Of course, there are times when I bring my phone to the dining table too.

But when I do, I only use it when we’re not talking or when I want to take pictures of us together.

Oh, I love taking pictures!

It’s become my way of showing appreciation for the people I care about. I don’t say it out loud, but I know they understand that I take photos because they’re important to me and I want to remember the moments we share.

(I picked up this habit during the golden years of photo-centric Instagram, when everyone was snapping pics to capture the good times.)

You might wonder how taking photos can positively affect my loved ones.

Well, when I show them the pictures I took months ago, they get this rush of happy nostalgia. You can see how it makes them smile, and that joy really brings us closer together.

4. Reminders

One of the things I love most about my family is how they always check in on me. They never forget to remind me to take my vitamins, eat healthy, and even go for my yearly check-up.

Being a naturally sweet person, I find it impossible not to show my family the same care.

I make it a point to check in on them regularly and remind them to prioritize their health. It’s become a habit for me to ask my parents how they’re doing and how they’re feeling after getting out of bed.

In fact, I’ve kind of taken on the role of the nurse in our household.

For example, whenever my dad needs eye drops, I’m the one who steps in to help. I carefully put the drops in his eyes to make sure he’s comfortable.

And when my mom is dealing with back pain, it’s usually me who gives her a simple massage to help ease her discomfort. I also apply topical pain relief medication to help her feel better.

5. Company

Another way I express my love for my family is by being there whenever they need me.

For example, if they need someone to accompany them to the clinic for check-ups, I gladly offer my support. I often don’t hesitate to drive them to the mall or other places when they need transportation.

When my mother plans to go to the market and her arm is aching, I volunteer to go with her to carry her groceries.

Similarly, when my father needed help purchasing construction materials for our new apartment, I was more than willing to lend a hand.

One time, my sister was preparing our Japan visa, and she needed assistance gathering the required documents. Together, we explored the metro to complete everything she needed.

I think by being there for each other during these times, we create a sense of teamwork and togetherness that really strengthens our connections.

6. Letters

I’m not the best conversationalist in person, which is why I often prefer expressing myself through writing.

This is particularly true when it comes to conveying my love and appreciation for my family and friends.

On special occasions like birthdays, Father’s Day, and Mother’s Day, I take the time to write heartfelt letters to my loved ones, sharing just how much they mean to me.

I usually write to my parents, but for my sister, I often send her a long text since she’s more into technology and likes communicating that way.

My sister and I work together on these letters; I write the looong messages, and she takes care of the gifts, which adds a nice touch to what we do. My sister leaves a message, as well.

We also include colorful greeting cards with our gifts because we believe they make our messages even more special.

Recently, though, we’ve had trouble finding good greeting cards in stores, so we’ve started designing our own cards on Canva.

7. Humility

Last, but this is probably best way I show love to my loved ones: by practicing humility. How?

I always try to be the first one to say sorry or reach out when we have misunderstandings.

I also try to end each day without any hard feelings among us, so we don’t go to bed upset with each other. It’s not healthy to sleep with negative emotions.

By making that effort, I show that their feelings are more important to me than my pride.

It sends a clear message: they mean a lot to me, and I don’t want to lose them over a silly argument or misunderstanding.

Apologizing isn’t always easy, especially when I feel like I’m not the one at fault.

It can take a lot of emotional and mental energy to reach out first. But I’ve learned that the feeling of forgiveness and moving on is incredibly freeing.

Once we clear the air, it’s like a weight is lifted off my shoulders, and I can truly enjoy our time together again.