My grandfather had started experiencing major problems with his left eye due to his old age. He had visited the hospital on many occasions to seek treatment, but his condition was not getting any better. Finally, his doctor told him the only way left was to go for eye surgery as a way of trying to correct the abnormality with the eyes.

Since it was a weekend and I had no classes on that day, I thought it would be a good idea to accompany my grandfather to the hospital rather than to stay home and be bored despite the fear I had of surgeries and hospitals in general.

My uncle drove us to the hospital. After ensuring that my grandfather bad checked in, he had to leave for an important appointment. Luckily, there were several helpful nurses available to offer any assistance that my grandfather required, and the doctors were very friendly. Even though things were taking their natural course, the situation was tearing me apart. I guessed the nurses sensed the high level of nervousness that both my grandfather and I had at that moment. They talked to us nicely so that we ended up relaxing and seeing the surgery as something normal and nothing to worry much about.

Before long, both my grandfather and I felt relaxed and ready for the surgery, as we forgot the high degree of nervousness we had felt just a few moments earlier. I have always had this fear of doctors and injections so even as I began to relax, thoughts of the upcoming surgery were drilling my mind. I knew the surgery would be more serious than the injections that I feared so much as well. In an hour or so, I was just sitting on the couch and waiting while the nurses were preparing my grandfather for the surgery.

All of a sudden, a cup of coffee appeared before my eyes.

After only an hour, my grandfather was wheeled out with a bandage on the operated eye.

2 . How to Feel Connected

It's easy to feel disconnected from what is going on around you in today's fast-paced world.     1     You can get in touch and feel connected, however, by following the tips below:

Consider why you feel disconnected. Knowing what is making you feel disconnected can help you choose the best ways to address it.     2     Ask yourself these questions: Are you keeping yourself occupied with work too much? Do you rely on electronic communication instead of face to face communication? Do you lack friendships that are satisfying?

Interact with people in person. Technology is a great way to stay in touch, but sometimes you need to spend time with other people in person.     3     You can also take steps to feel more connected by making small-talk with strangers who are sharing parts of your day.

    4    

Your loved ones could feel shy, so you may never know how to improve your relationship unless you ask the right questions. Asking them to open the doors can give you some insight on what you can do. Learning this information can help to strengthen your bond.

Show your commitment to them. Simply showing up and being there for your loved ones says a lot about how much you value your relationships. Putting in the time shows them that you are committed and want to stay connected.     5    

Show appreciation. A simple “thank you” goes a very long way. Unfortunately, it is something that people who are close often take for granted. Telling someone you appreciate their time, love, and efforts can strengthen your bond and help you to become more connected.