The Dilemma of Loneliness
There’s a difference between loneliness and solitude.
Over the past few months, so many inquiries and articles have landed on my desk about loneliness that I’m beginning to wonder if it’s an epidemic. Much of this has do with the isolation associated with technological connections and the increased use of social media. Sometimes it’s just easier to text someone than it is to get in your car and drive to have a cup of coffee or tea, but in the long run, feelings of loneliness might result. Further, in addition to the aging population and many elders living alone, many others are choosing to live alone, thus increasing incidences of loneliness.
Loneliness is not just about being alone, though, but rather, it is about a state of mind. Being lonely is about feeling disconnected from those around you, whether from an interpersonal or universal standpoint. Those who are lonely feel empty and drained. Solitude, on the other hand, can be restorative and healing. Some individuals — such as surfers, bikers, artists, and writers — require solitude in order to do what they love. In fact, it has been said that creativity and solitude go hand in hand. In her 1929 diary, author Virginia Woolf claimed that feelings of loneliness instilled her with a sense of wisdom and creativity.
Humans are social creatures, and in order to be happy, we need to establish some…
