Learning About Loneliness from Unlikely Teachers

It is one thing to be like Greta Garbo, who famously declared in her Swedish accent, “I vant to be alone.” It is quite another matter to be lonely.

Especially now, as we emerge from a year of COVID isolation, many people feel like they are lacking companionship. Three in five working Americans regard themselves as lonely, according to a 2019 Cigna survey – up 19% from the previous year. Surprisingly, 18- to 22-year-olds had the highest average loneliness score. And this was before the pandemic.

Many countries, cities, and civic groups have already launched innovative projects to reduce loneliness. Shareable has reported some of them. While these are necessary and promising community measures, social isolation is also an individual challenge.

In a mere nine years, one-fourth of the U. S. population will be over 65. Loneliness could become an even greater problem. We need conversation, support, and – most important – the life-enhancing energy that comes from interacting with others.

Ironically, I’ve learned how to combat loneliness from its most likely victims: women in their 90s and 100s…

If you’re a fan of this blog, you already know about “my old ladies.” Read of the rest of  “10 Surprising Lessons in Loneliness from the Most Unlikely Teachers,” published June 16, 2021 on shareable.net

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I’ve been missing in action because of recent travels (Paris to New York and now on Fire Island!), but I have lots of stuff in the works.  Stay tuned….