Written by our Founder and CEO, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is traditionally (and thankfully) a quieter time, as the holiday bustle winds down and many of us take a well-deserved break from work. It’s a chance to relax and recharge while children and grandchildren revel in their winter break.
This lull provides a perfect opportunity to strengthen bonds with the people who mean the most to you. I recall the days spent with my family assembling puzzles, playing board games, and enjoying the new toys that Santa delivered to my children. These activities brought us closer and filled our home with laughter and joy.
This period also offers a chance to reflect and set personal goals for the coming year. And, of course, it’s when most of us figure out the answer to the inevitable question: “What’s your New Year’s resolution?”
You might be thinking about losing weight, exercising more, improving sleep, or carving out more personal time. These are significant goals that, if achieved, can greatly enhance your health and happiness.
But I’d like to suggest a resolution that’s just as powerful and maybe even simpler: focus on building new relationships and deepening the ones you already have. Let me explain.
The power of relationships
Research from Harvard and the National Institutes of Health underscores the profound impact of social connections on our well-being. People with robust social ties tend to experience less stress and better health than those with fewer connections.
Despite this knowledge, loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. Over a third of adults regularly feel lonely or isolated, a number that jumps to an alarming 60% among younger individuals. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has highlighted that loneliness significantly heightens the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
The paradox is that while the basics of friendship are often taught from a young age, the digital age has transformed how we interact, with social media often substituting for genuine personal connections. Additionally, the demands of family, work, and daily life can overwhelm us, making it easy to neglect simple acts of connection like sending a note or making a call.
A notable 2009 study revealed that, on average, people lose about half of their friends every seven years, primarily because these relationships "fall through the cracks." This disconnection is one of the leading reasons why friendships end.
Given these challenges, committing to build and strengthen relationships in 2025 could be a resolution that greatly enhances our individual and collective health and happiness.
Easy and not so easy
As a father, grandfather, and businessman, I’ve learned that nurturing relationships takes intentional effort. I often compare relationships to gardens – they thrive when you care for them regularly.
It’s the easiest thing in the world, right? It’s also very easy to slip up.
One year, I forgot my youngest son’s birthday and his wife had to remind me on the day. I had never been so embarrassed – and vowed never to make that mistake again. During that winter break, I began mapping out with whom I wanted to reconnect in the coming year and how I’d make it happen. It was a small step, but it worked wonders. Now I'm the one who always remembers dates in my family (with the help of my assistant, Patty).
That experience also made me realize something bigger: If a birthday can slip my mind – and I run a gifting company – it’s likely an issue for others, too. Even with tools like social media and address books, there wasn’t anything designed specifically to help people manage their relationships.
That’s why we created Celebrations Reminders. It’s a free tool that makes staying connected simple. You just create an account, enter names and important dates – birthdays, anniversaries, holidays – and turn on reminders. You’ll get an email or text (your choice) ahead of time, so you’re always prepared.
It’s incredibly easy, and I hope you’ll give it a try. Staying connected has never been simpler!
Committing to relationships
As we step into 2025, let’s make a commitment to prioritize our relationships – whether they’re old or new, personal or professional. Our connections are the foundation of our greatest joy and strength. And they’re good for our health too!
As my friend Dr. George Everly, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says:
Building and nurturing friendships isn’t complicated — it’s something we’ve known how to do since elementary school. What it takes is mindfulness and a little effort to invest the time.
By focusing on your relationships, you’ll not only strengthen your bonds but also pave the way for a brighter, healthier, and happier New Year – for yourself and the people you care about.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder, CEO, and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
