Make the Call

When I first moved to Austin a little over two years ago, I was constantly busy, and nothing felt familiar. Every day was full of unknowns, but what really got me through those first few months was the endless phone calls I made back home to my family. Unlike a lot of people, I was lucky to move with two of my college friends, so there was always this comforting sense of familiarity whenever I came back to our shared space. To this day, coming home to Jordan and Elise still feels like the ultimate reset. They keep me grounded and remind me that family and friends are never too far away.

Like most people my age, I’m not a fan of making calls. Honestly, I used to get anxious even about calling to make a reservation or schedule a doctor's appointment. But I quickly realized just how much can get done over the phone. Still, most of my outgoing calls go straight to my family—mainly my mom. Somewhere along the way, I started calling her every day just to check in, and our conversations usually go something like

this:

Me: Hi Mom!

Mom: Hi my love, how are you?

Me: (Yapping about my day until I’m one minute from the house)

Mom: Oh good, sounds busy.

Me: Okay, I’m pulling into the driveway. Talk tomorrow. Love you.

Mom: Love you, bye.

It’s not groundbreaking, I know—but wow, what a difference it makes just to hear her voice. It’s become such a regular part of my day that when we don’t talk, it feels like I’ve missed something in my routine.

Shortly after I moved, Jordan introduced me to the song Bless the Telephone by Labi Siffre. It’s a short, 1-minute, 37-second song, but it hits so hard. Pause here—go listen to it, and then come back and tell me who popped into your mind while it played.

I shared the song with my mom, and now it’s one of our favorites. Whenever I’m anxious, feeling down, or just missing home, I turn it on, and suddenly all I need is that phone call. So, take a minute—think of someone you should call. Whether it’s a friend you haven’t caught up with in a while or a family member you haven’t seen in years—call them. It’s not as scary once they pick up. Just start talking.

Ok, love you. Bye!