Studies show people who spend lots of time with family can have higher life expectancies.
Catching up and having strong support systems with family can provide a sense of belonging, which is critical for keeping mental health in shape.
Sundays in Reston
One resident at Gabriel Homes, Chris, is a social butterfly when he’s home with his housemates. There’s plenty of activity during the week since Chris works and powerlifts. But he holds true to his ritual every Sunday afternoon, where he meets with his mom and brother for lunch.
“We do lunch at Uncle Julio’s, and Chris gets chicken fajitas every time. The restaurant is a great hangout place for us, and we love watching the Reston-Herndon area grow over the years.”
Family outings are a lifelong tradition for Chris and his brother (right).
The family did Friday outings when the boys were younger. When the brothers moved out, Sundays fit everyone’s schedules best. Chris’ brother’s girlfriend became a regular addition to the group when the pair started dating, and she brought extra fun and conversation to Sunday lunches.
“Sundays with my family are the highlight of mine and my girlfriend’s weeks,” Chris’ brother says. “They’re full of jubilance and laughs, and we love being in each other’s presence before the hard workweeks.”
The group likes talking about music and movies they’ve seen.
Residents make trips to the movies with their housemates at University Mall. When they have their Sundays in Reston lunches, Chris and Jackie play trivia flashcard games on his favorite movies. One card reads, “Who are Harry Potter’s best friends?” and Chris answers, “Ron and Hermione!”
“My favorite movie right now is The Little Mermaid because the songs are great and Ariel is really nice,” Chris says. “I also like the Home Alone movies, Dennis the Menace, and Jurassic Park.”
When everyone’s ready to head their separate ways...
… Chris often asks Jackie to play music in the car. Chris tends to be a man of few words, but he belts every lyric when there’s music.
