Combatting Loneliness: We're All in This Together

"On the subway, we feel like strangers, but we're all in this together."

- Ben Lee, Singer
full song here

I've been talking to a lot of people and seeing a lot of comments online from people who are lonely.

We are finding it harder and harder to make those personal connections that give us that sense of belonging we all seek.

I don't have the clinical or sociological expertise to discuss the roots of this problem or its significance on society, but I'm a human, and I've also experienced loneliness - especially through large swaths of my adolescence and young adulthood - so I feel modestly qualified to talk about this.

I don't mention any of it to bring you down.

I mention it because there's a terrible irony here: If you feel lonely, you're not alone.

This is a complex topic, with many strands and solutions that vary by circumstances.  But let's not overlook the simple solutions either - whether you're lonely yourself, or want to support someone else:

Let's be open to each other.   Let's unplug our earbuds when we're out in the world and say hello (verbally or non-verbally) to those we meet. Hold doors and elevators.

Set the boundaries you need to be safe, but if there's room left:

• Talk to strangers. 
• Make eye contact.
• Ask baristas, bus drivers, and other peripheral people their names.
• Laugh at your shared circumstances.

Some of this can feel awkward at first if it's not your usual M.O.  But keep practicing. 

And even though you definitely deserve to be the person on the receiving end of all this random love, don't wait for others to reach out: be first!

It will definitely come back around to you when you get the hang of it.

The more I advance my writing practice, the more I'm learning what my work is all about.

Yes, on the surface of things, I offer writing services. That part's obvious.

But at a deeper level, it's all about connection.  I help others say to each other the words that help them connect, to show they value one another and share the impact they have in each other's lives.

How amazing is that?!

If you need help finding just the right words, feel free to give me a shout.

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Photo courtesy of S.L Wong @ pexels.com.

** Statistic from Radio Canada International, Loneliness is a 'significant issue' in Canada, says doctor, January 19, 2018