10/05/2020
I'm going to say this and maybe you'll disagree. That's okay. This topic is important to me because loneliness nearly killed me, and it was connection that saved me.
It seems everywhere I go I see signs saying things like "together apart". That's fine, that's nice, but...
Let's not forget that real connection is really important and isolation is a killer.
Please don't isolate.
You can be careful, but please don't isolate. You can keep your circle very small, but please don't isolate. You can take lots of precautions, but please don't isolate.
Create a pod of friends that you spend time with, maybe it's just one family. If you're not comfortable with that go on a socially distanced walk with someone or sit on separate blankets at the beach. Set out lawn chairs in your driveway. Maybe it's your mom or maybe it's a friend. It doesn't matter who you connect with as much as it matters that you connect with someone who is good for your soul.
I'm not trying to take away from the other messages dominating the radio, social media, and flashing signs on our highways. I'm saying I know we have to do hard things right now, but total isolation shouldn't be one of them.
According to Psychology Today:
- Loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 ci******es a day.
- Loneliness reduces your immunity and increases your risk of disease.
- Stress will affect you more if you're lonely (financial trouble, health problems...ect) will take a bigger financial toll on people without social and emotional support.
- Loneliness is not helped by social media.
I know we're all doing the best we can. I'm just saying we need to be creative, because real connection is really important. Really, really, important. Not "even" now, but especially now. There's a lot of pressure to be "together apart", but sometimes we need to be together together. That's a basic human need.
There is a lot of virtue signaling going on and it's icky. We need to be careful because people are going to fall through the cracks.
Connection is really important, we need it.
With all the love,
Jess