Excellent piece, Brenda! Love that list of songs that you start with. And I agree—loneliness in the 21st century is a unique animal, and I love that you've been such a good friend to those in need of one in the lonely role of caretaker.
Thanks so much Jan! I am mortified the email went to subscribers with apartment spelled wrong. (Ouch). I fixed it quickly, but to you and others my apologies.
Thanks for talking about this! While podcasts and music and tv shows help the feeling in the moment, I think it's more of a bandaid. What it does is take the opportunity for rejection out of the equation. And I think it's incredibly difficult to be vulnerable and put ourselves back out into situations with other humans when we have relied on those bandaids for a prolonged time. Balance is key! Some of both hopefully! By being better listeners for our friends we can make it easier!
Thanks for commenting and not just because I agree that TV, social media and podcasts are bandaids. I am particularly concerned that some of the messages can make listeners feel worse and more lonely. There’s the FOMO of mistakenly thinking everyone else’s life is more full. I appreciate you reading & sharing your thoughts.
Such an important topic and one that resonates with me. I am aware that I have experienced loneliness since I was a teenager. I still experience it. My loneliness is very different from being alone. I can be very happy and content in my own company, yet can feel terribly alone when others are around. I have tried to discuss it but have given up. I have met with uncomprehending, blank stares or looks of ‘I don’t want to know, I have my own problems’.
It’s something I have learned to deal with over the years but without resolving the issue. Thank you for the article. Every little bit helps.
Graham, I'm back from Labor Day holiday and read your comment. Firstly, thank you SO much for sharing your experience. As I was researching this topic, I learned about people feeling alone while surrounded by people. It's a lot more common than I ever realized. I read the most enlightening essay written in September 2020 during an acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic although the writer (an Internet gamer) also wrote of feeling lonely surrounded by people. I'm looking forward to learning and writing more about this unspoken epidemic.
Excellent piece, Brenda! Love that list of songs that you start with. And I agree—loneliness in the 21st century is a unique animal, and I love that you've been such a good friend to those in need of one in the lonely role of caretaker.
Thanks so much Jan! I am mortified the email went to subscribers with apartment spelled wrong. (Ouch). I fixed it quickly, but to you and others my apologies.
Thanks for talking about this! While podcasts and music and tv shows help the feeling in the moment, I think it's more of a bandaid. What it does is take the opportunity for rejection out of the equation. And I think it's incredibly difficult to be vulnerable and put ourselves back out into situations with other humans when we have relied on those bandaids for a prolonged time. Balance is key! Some of both hopefully! By being better listeners for our friends we can make it easier!
Thanks for commenting and not just because I agree that TV, social media and podcasts are bandaids. I am particularly concerned that some of the messages can make listeners feel worse and more lonely. There’s the FOMO of mistakenly thinking everyone else’s life is more full. I appreciate you reading & sharing your thoughts.
I have had several texts indicating I missed Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone released 1995 in the loneliness playlist.
Such an important topic and one that resonates with me. I am aware that I have experienced loneliness since I was a teenager. I still experience it. My loneliness is very different from being alone. I can be very happy and content in my own company, yet can feel terribly alone when others are around. I have tried to discuss it but have given up. I have met with uncomprehending, blank stares or looks of ‘I don’t want to know, I have my own problems’.
It’s something I have learned to deal with over the years but without resolving the issue. Thank you for the article. Every little bit helps.
Graham, I'm back from Labor Day holiday and read your comment. Firstly, thank you SO much for sharing your experience. As I was researching this topic, I learned about people feeling alone while surrounded by people. It's a lot more common than I ever realized. I read the most enlightening essay written in September 2020 during an acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic although the writer (an Internet gamer) also wrote of feeling lonely surrounded by people. I'm looking forward to learning and writing more about this unspoken epidemic.