Last update: 12 Oct. 2025
This diagnosis represents one of my core efforts: strengthening and maintaining meaningful connections with my family. It’s not just about being physically present, but about creating intentional moments that build lasting bonds.
🎯 The Vision
Family closeness doesn’t happen by accident. It requires deliberate action, planning, and follow-through. This effort encompasses everything from holiday celebrations to weekly dinners, from fixing Grandma’s TV to making dumplings together.
📝 Key Encounter Notes
Throughout my journey of staying close to family, I’ve documented several important encounters and reflections. Looking at my sprint from 2024 W52, I can see how I was actively working on this goal during the holiday season:
- Wrapping Rhonda’s present – Small gestures matter
- Fixing Grandma’s TV – Being available for practical help
- Planning for tree hopping – Creating shared experiences during the holidays
These tasks weren’t just items on a checklist—they were intentional acts of care and connection during a busy week.
✅ Active Tasks & Treatments
My approach to being closer to family manifests through several concrete treatments and ongoing tasks:
Cooking & Shared Meals
- Cook for Family, including Dumplings – Food brings us together
- Make Dumplings for Fam – A recurring tradition that creates memories
- create next dumplings invite in 2025 – Planning ahead to maintain the tradition
Quality Time with Individual Family Members
- Spend Time with Dad (Paul Braun)
- schedule Spice World movie with Serentiy – Making time for shared interests
- hang with Grandma Staudinger
- Fix grandma’s TV – Showing up when needed
Holiday & Special Events
- 2025 Friends and Family: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas
- Thanksgiving @ Jay and Amy’s House
- Events and Holidays with Goehring Family
- Plan for tree hopping party with Goehrings (game, snacks, booze)
- Setup Christmas Tree
Gift-Giving & Thoughtfulness
- buy and wrap Rhonda elfster present and add my wishlist
- take mom and rhonda present to mom’s house
🔗 Connection to Core Values
This diagnosis is deeply connected to 1. Meaningful Connections, one of my foundational values. Being closer to family isn’t separate from living authentically—it’s a core expression of what matters most to me.
💭 Reflections
Looking at the pattern of tasks and treatments, I notice:
- Food is central – Many connections happen around shared meals and cooking together
- Holidays matter – Special occasions provide natural anchors for family time
- Small acts count – Fixing a TV or wrapping a present aren’t grand gestures, but they show care
- Planning is essential – The tasks marked for 2025 show I’m thinking ahead to sustain these connections
🌱 What’s Growing
This is a living practice, not a finished project. The mix of completed tasks and planned activities shows that staying close to family is an ongoing commitment that requires attention, creativity, and consistent effort. It’s about building a rhythm of connection that can weather the busy seasons of life.