Communication is vague term. There's verbal and nonverbal, face-to-face and electronic, individually or in a group - it comes in all different forms. I'll be honest, I am not the best at communication. I do a poor job of calling my family, I don't like to admit when I'm having a bad day, and I find myself not saying what I always mean. Some people are just good at it. You know the type - they always know the right things to say, and you just feel better after talking to them. For some of us, communication is not our forte. It can be pretty tough, or maybe just awkward. I really believe that there is an art to communicating. But just because it is not always easy does not mean that we need to give up on it.

We, as a society, have a tendency to warp communication. We comment things on social media that we don't tell people to their face. We send texts instead of having conversations. We snapchat our faces to one another with stickers on them. I love it all just as much as the next college kid, but sometimes I get disgusted with how we misuse communication.

I am a huge proponent of handwritten notes. It just feels good to know that while a friend or relative could have voice-texted something to me, they took the time to sit down and handwrite it to me instead. I keep a box in my room of all of the things people have written me that meant a lot. The box is my happy place. When I’m feeling down, stressed, or just not enough, I can go through my notes and cards and am reminded of the sweet community I have. It makes me happy to be able to do that for other people, so often times my pals get a nice little note from me when they're having a bad day, or when I just really appreciate them.

As much as I love notes, they don't compare to a good face-to-face conversation. Actually, we can start simpler than that - how about a meal without cell phones? Or a date that doesn't include sitting at home watching the television. Or a nice drive where we take the time to catch up. We get so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget to check in with those around us. I didn't take the time to open up to friends in high school, and coming to college I didn't really want to change. I have learned this year, that nothing makes my heart fuller than a good conversation with a friend. Sometimes its us that needs listening to, sometimes its them, and sometimes you both are just having a bad day - in that case it's best to cuddle in bed, eat ice cream, and vent together. Friends are put into our lives for a reason, so talk to them.

Tell them you appreciate them. Tell them when you think they look nice. Tell them when they have hurt your feelings. Tell them when you are anxious. Tell them when you are worried about them. Tell them when you miss them. Tell them when you feel like there is tension in your friendship. Tell them when you are excited. Tell them when you are scared. Tell them when you love them. Tell them whatever is on your heart.

Granted, I am not one who wears my heart on my sleeve, and conversations can feel awkward to me - especially the deep ones. I am not saying you have to tell your whole friend group everything all the time, but the people who are really important to you deserve to know what is going on in your life: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Communication can be a really amazing thing, if we let it. It can help us grow and flourish. It is so important that we hone in on communication, and don't become crippled by technology. At the end of the day, it is people and the little things they do that matter the most, and if you are anything like me then you probably don't tell those people you appreciate them as much as you should.