Picture it. March 2020. A moment in history that many would rather leave behind. I choose, instead, to reflect on it as a time from which we can learn, particularly because we still see remnants of its psychosocial impact today.

The world slowed to a stop. We closed our doors, masked our faces, and braced for uncertainty. We were told it was temporary, but what followed changed the way we lived, worked, and connected.  If you are reading this, you made it through. But you also lost something. Some of us lost family members and friends. I lost my mother. Others lost their jobs, community, or a sense of direction. And many of us lost something more challenging to name: the ease of being around people and the comfort of spontaneous conversation.

We did not realize how much we relied on the small, unplanned moments that brought us together. A smile in the hallway. A quick laugh in the breakroom. A thoughtful pause in a face-to-face conversation. These were never just background noise. They were the rhythm of belonging. Now, even though we have returned to our workplaces and social spaces, the quiet often lingers. You may find yourself unsure of what to say. Conversations feel harder. Eye contact feels intense. Silences stretch longer than they used to. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone.

You are not broken. You are healing. And you can begin again.

Here are three things you can do today to reconnect with others in real and human ways:

I. Be fully present

Presence is the foundation of connection. Put the phone away, make eye contact, and listen without planning your response. You don’t need the perfect words. Your attention is enough.

II.Ask meaningful questions

Move beyond “How are you?” Ask “What has been giving you energy lately?” or “What has been challenging for you this week?” Questions like these create space for honesty, reflection, and deeper connection.

III. Offer simple kindness

Compliment someone. Thank a colleague for something specific. Reach out to someone quiet. Small moments of care rebuild trust and warmth, one gesture at a time.

This is how we begin to speak human again. Perhaps we don’t need to return to exactly what we were. Maybe this moment is our invitation to be more intentional, more present, more kind.

The world needs more voices that carry compassion. More pauses filled with care. More people are willing to reconnect, even if the words feel rusty at first.  Reach out. Begin again. The connection you are looking for is looking for you too.

You have not forgotten how to talk to people. You are simply remembering how much it matters.