Beating Loneliness
Do you have social interaction on a regular
basis?
Do you feel isolated?
Do you feel alone even if you are are married
and have children?
Do you see other adults only at work? Do you pull up to your
home, hit the garage door opener and park inside? Do you even know
your neighbor's names? Get out of your fortresses! Leave the
house, leave the cubicle, leave the television and leave your car. If
you feel alone and seldom meet with other adults, there are ways to beat
the loneliness you are feeling. The Internet and cell phones cannot
take the place of real communication. You need to interact and
share your emotions and feelings with other people whom you can actually
touch or slap on the knee when you tell a joke. You need to bond
with other people and stop hiding behind the barriers. Open up!
Studies show that most Americans only have two close friends. That
is two people whom you can take into your confidence and share your
feelings with. No wonder so many people seek therapy! Most
are paying a therapist for the service, and illusion, of being their
friend and listening to their problems, and for advice. We are
beginning to grow a society of isolates. Children are not safe to
go to the park and stay outside until dark. So, they stay inside,
under mom's watchful eye, and play video games or watch TV.
Neighbors no longer have get-togethers for the block and cookout like
they did once upon a time. Families need to begin to socialize more
before we really lose that ability.
Invite
a family over to play a board game (cards do not have to be played on
the computer!). Fix a dinner for an elderly neighbor and carry it
over to them. Start interactions with the people around you.
You will find that they are probably just as lonely as you! You can
take your kids to the local park. You might meet your new best
friend while watching your kid play. Take your dog for a walk down
the street and see if you meet anyone. Note: It's
better if you don't let your dog do their business on your potential
friend's lawn! Smile! No one wants to be friends with a
sourpuss. And, if your spouse doesn't want to get together with the
other spouse, ask them to go to a baseball game or on a shopping trip.
Start a book club, do whatever it takes to start the ball rolling. Use
your imagination and get out there! |