Loneliness

We as humans have a need to connect and yet many of us frequently feel alone. Loneliness has a feeling of distress or discomfort and a longing for social connection. Some people are around others during the day—or are in a long-lasting relationship and still experience loneliness. Feeling a lack of social connection can be painful and in today’s society there appears to be less in person connection and for generations that are used to this and those that are of the newer generation where social media is their connection, I still hear this yearning for people wanting to be with.

Some feel left out & others look for that human to turn to. To take a walk with, to have that cup of coffee with or to simply sit on a bench and fish with. There is something to be said for human connect. When we connect in person often there is a shared vitality, warmth, non-verbal connection. And there is a difference in being lonely & wanting some time alone to rejuvenate.

After being alone for so long it can be difficult to engage, to figure out what brings one some joy, pleasure in their day to day. There are studies showing how loneliness can impact people’s physical health as well as mental health.

As I sit with people who long for more in their lives, I ask them what brought them pleasure in the past, have they thought about the practice of gratitude daily, do they spend time in nature connecting with people that lift them up? We have dialog about what brings them joy? Are there things they can do that they have always wanted to do and never did?

Finding what brings us joy can be like cultivating a garden, it requires us to plant the seed, intentionally and tending to it.

I wonder how much happier we would all be if we just went & planted some seeds?