Holidays come with a lot of family talk. Whether you have taken the requisite planes, trains, and automobiles to be with your loved ones or you are celebrating at a distance, there is often a parade of family updates — the well-wish calls that inevitably (and gratifyingly!) turn to the reports and the check-ins. Some of us come from divorced families and are well versed in the art of such phone calls, so please, take some wisdom from me here.
First, I advise having a few on-hand anecdotes or topics. You’ll have to be in the flow of the conversation, but the yawning open-endedness of even a simple “So what’s been going on with you?” can quickly swamp even a seasoned converser if you’re not ready.
The next will be controversial, possibly, but I think vital: Have a task! Putter around, declutter, do the dishes, go for a walk, sit and craft — whatever. We’re looking for something your brain can do in the background so you can focus on the call, and, conversely, really give it your all. I’ve been known to clean a whole house or two in my time catching up with people. But a personal favorite when I’m still is watching craft videos, and specifically resin makers.
These videos have the benefit of being soundless, save for an eerie soundtrack you can mute while you’re on the call, but with intricate, procedural crafting work. It’s the sort of thing that I am fascinated by, to a degree that it almost overwhelms my innate sense that I could never be cut out for this line of work. It’s mesmerizing and incredible. Every step is its own skill set, and every one gives way to this remarkable whole. I, personally, spent several long phone calls last year wrecking my YouTube algorithm by watching Minibricks’ channel, which I felt had a great mix of artistry, humor, and reveal. But the beautiful thing about a long catch-up call is it affords you the opportunity to let the robots do their thing and take you on an adventure; once you finish one resin model, it’s on to the next. And before too long you’ll have caught up with all your loved ones — and have a strong desire to buy a resin shark lamp.
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