Time and again I hear people say “I am lonely .”
My friends mum was here but now she has gone back, inevitably she feels lonely.
Our children came over for Diwali but now both are back to their universities. My house feels empty and lonely.
Pets, when not around make us feel completely lost.
Loss of a dear one or partner will leave us very lonely. I see patients all the time who go through this pain.
Loneliness is tough. How do people cope with it? Having a routine helps. Everyone can’t have a job to return to. One may even be retired.
What I have learnt from my patients is that they always looks forward and move ahead towards something positive. Holiday, birth of grandchild, church, exercise have been saviours.
If anyone has strategies to help from lamenting and being lonely, please do share so we can all be happy.
I find creative hobbies a good way to overcome loneliness. They can help us express and learn more about ourselves 🙏
So true, totally agree.
Keep busy but find time to go out. Join things. When I was single, before I met my present husband (nearly 20 years ago now?) it was so easy to come home from work, fire up the computer and sit until bedtime. I joined a local choir, and a Scottish country dance group. (Not for the physical exercise, although it got me off the sofa, but for the mental exercise. You have to remember the steps or you screw up everything.) Now retired, I’m not out in the evening (and have moved away from London) but I’ve joined a writing group and our local u3a.
Don’t sit and feel sorry for yourself. If you can’t get out, invite neighbours around. Start up your own book group, knit and natter, colour and chat, coffee mornings…
(Warning, you will meet some irritating people as well as nice ones. Be kind to them. They are probably lonely.)
Love the ideas. Totally agree. Thank you so much.