Yesterday I was thinking about all the people who must have spent Easter entirely on their own and I wondered how they were faring. It can't have been easy, no matter how hard anyone tries to stay cheerful and keep occupied. So a few words on loneliness this morning, and a shout out to anyone who is feeling lonely. Your bravery in this crisis situation is amazing.
This is from Donald "Don" Miller. He is an American author, public speaker, and business owner and CEO of StoryBrand, a marketing company. He's also an author of personal essays and reflections about faith, God, and self-discovery. (Wikipedia)
"The words 'alone', 'lonely' and 'loneliness' are three of the most powerful words in the English language... Those words say that we are human; they are like the words hunger and thirst. But they are not words about the body, they are words about the soul.”
Try to have a happy day everyone, and please stay safe.
There is one sense in which lockdown loneliness is easier to deal with .There is no social stigma about admitting to loneliness and asking someone to talk to you.
Perhaps some people will be able to build on the kindness of strangers and create new friendships and some good may come of it
I learned when looking after Victor that most people are quite diffident about offering friendship in case it is refused especially as people put a good face on things. To say to someone "people dont seem to like me much but I'd love a phone call" is just not possible but to say I am so missing people with this shut down I'd love a phone call" is very different. Because I was saying I am unable to leave home because of his MSA helped me to make an incredible number of friends and I became much better at doing it.
Maybe now is a good time to start. Does this make sense to anyone?
That makes perfect sense FredaE, especially about extending the hand of friendship. I think that British people in particular fear they are ‘interfering’ or will be rebuffed. I also think that motives for offering that hand are often quite rightly rejected, but now, it’s much easier to offer and receive friendship on forums such as HealthUnlocked, but still be relatively safe.
I think it is a great idea while we have the chance to break the ice more and to be a friend and/or to admit to loneliness. Thanks FredaE
You're right: those of us who live with our partners and/or families are fortunate indeed (assuming those relationships are harmonious, of course). I am rather self-sufficient in that respect: I happen to live with my family, with regular check-ins with and from friends, but I am equally happy in my own company. In fact, there are days when I crave a little solitude and actively distance myself for a while.
As with so many other things, it has much to do with balance.
We recognise how much some people are suffering in the current climate and have been checking on neighbours who live alone: a simple phone call can make all the difference.
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A quotation for Friday 3rd April 2020
