English 
Nederlands 
It will surely have happened to you. Suddenly you get an online friendship request from someone you haven’t heard for years. Actually, as I was writing this text, an old friend contacted me. The coincidence was freaky, but gave me instantly a good feeling!
It can also be the other way around. You think of someone from the past, wonder how he or she is doing.
Not so many years ago, you would have to search through thick (paper) phone books, contact former schools or companies (privacy wasn’t such an issue back then), ask around with friends and family…. The internet has definitely simplified things a lot !
And even though it is not your intention to immediately become ‘best friends’ with lost acquaintances and distant relatives, reaching out is nice and always interesting. As for me, I like to connect with old and new ‘online’ friends every now and then. Although nothing beats a ‘real-life’ hug!
Tip for today
Contact a ‘long lost’ friend. Chances are they will smile when you reach out to them.
My personal story:
I am very grateful for social media! Thanks to Facebook I found Koen again….
I’ll tell you the story…
We met at a party. I did not want to go, because it was rainy and cold and I had to drive 40 minutes just to get there. But some force made me step in my car.
After a couple of hours at the party, a group men arrived, clearly in a very good mood 😉 : it was not their first stop.
Koen and I started talking, and it went like this….