How about we make 2025 the year we reconnect? The year we recharge friendships and family relationships with real conversations, meet ups, cards and letters.

We live in a world where the buzz of WhatsApp notifications has replaced the buzz of real chats. At work, at home, on buses and even at dinner, we are texting. Emojis tell the other person we are happy, sad, in love or even hungry. Long voice messages have replaced phone conversations.

But they are not conversations. I leave a voice message, you listen and you record one back to me. We are not chatting. There is no flow, laughter or even annoying interruptions.

On a call, we can hear a friend laugh, let our parents share a story, or remind someone of good times in the past. We listen to the warmth and emotion in the voice on the other end. Instead of finding the right emoji, I can tell you I’m happy, hungry or that I love you. Let’s reclaim the simple act of calling each other for heartfelt chats, to check in, share a joke and to stay in touch.

Of course, WhatsApp is great if a group is organising an event or a night out. But how about the next morning, we spend breakfast chatting about all the craic we had?

At work, we really have lost so much human contact. Most work emails no longer even include a phone number. Of course, emails give you proof of the interaction that you can check back on. It is evidence that you both agreed to do a job at a certain time for an agreed price. But often a quick call could replace a series of emails flying back and forth.

If you’re a customer trying to contact a company, you will be directed to contact them by email, on social media or by web chat. A web chat with a bot is not actually chatting.

When was the last time you sent a card? Probably not as long as it’s been since you sent a letter. There is something very personal about sending and receiving a handwritten letter or card.

Can we sometimes choose conversations over notifications, visits over video calls, and letters over likes?

Unlike a text these require time, effort and thought. There are beautiful cards available, decorated with everything from famous art to Irish wild flowers. They can be read, displayed in a room and kept.

I still have birthday cards my children sent me over the years. I recently found some that my mother, who has passed on, sent me years ago. I can honestly say that a thank you card fills me with far more joy and a feeling that I am truly being thanked, rather than a texted “thanks”.

Next month I won’t be expecting any Valentine cards, but for those who will, would you rather a handwritten card or a text with a heart emoji?

Of course, the ultimate connection is to meet someone face to face. Looking at photos on Instagram of the apple tart I made is nowhere near as nice as sitting opposite me and enjoying a slice as we chat.

Visiting friends and loved ones in person allows us to share, to laugh together, to comfort with a hug rather than a sympathetic emoji.

During lockdown we yearned for a physical presence. We found out how important it is for our happiness and mental health to spend time with people. We have forgotten how important that connection is in our acceptance of modern means of communication.

So in 2025, let’s find a balance.

Can we sometimes choose conversations over notifications, visits over video calls, and letters over likes? This time next year we won’t remember the texts we sent but we will remember the time we met up for lunch. We’ll remember sitting up late chatting about our childhood. We’ll remember the beautiful card we got on our birthday.

Let’s connect with words, whether spoken, written or shared across a table.

We need to reconnect. Will you answer the call?