Social contacts certainly enhance the productivity of
individuals, teams, families and communities. Anything you own will not really
help you, especially during a crisis, unless you have goodwill, fellowship,
mutual sympathy and affectionate interactions with your family, neighbours,
friends and work associates. The man who has no social capital, will find no
support when faced by financial loss medical emergencies or any catastrophe
where he needs a helping hand. Everyday life would be lonely and boring. Those
without social capital are more prone to illness. Dean Ornish the heart
specialist says that those who have five or more close friends are far less
likely to get heart attacks than those who don’t.
Though no man is an island, there are four negative consequences
of social capital: exclusion of outsiders; excess claims on group members and restrictions
on individual freedom.
So gather your social network close around you like a
warm multi-coloured blanket. Keep in touch on telephone, sms, internet. All of
these channels can enhance the most important way of communicating-in-person
and face to face.
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