Struggling to Connect: The Loneliness Epidemic
In today’s overly connected and overly stimulated world, with all our communication technologies accessible, we still have a lot to talk about.
We pose and post pretty pictures, yet struggle to call for anything meaningful, let alone for understanding and help.
This problem is now considered an epidemic. The surgeon general warns half of U.S. adults are experiencing considerable levels of loneliness, which can affect physical, mental and societal health.
Before diagnosing yourself, let’s define the term.
Loneliness is a subjective feeling in which the connections that we seek in our life are greater than the connections we actually have — imagine eating without the ability to achieve satisfaction.
Insufficient teachings regarding interpersonal relationships may be to blame. Most of us have stories of being miseducated or wildly unprepared by our predecessors.
One's "trial and error" history with the word “intimacy” could create a bias surrounding the topic. However, intimacy helps heal loneliness by bridging disconnection.
By definition, it means to bond in closeness.
Public conversations about intimacy have long been marketed as activities for outliers. Of course, this narration can't be an accurate representation of interpersonal intimacy. Everyone needs to feel connected. Everyone needs to feel good.
However, feelings can be scary for people fearful of being out of control, or worse, rejected from normalcy.
“Quality play” is a form of self-care love. Perfect for people looking for an amusing activity to nurture relationships and strengthen their own ability to connect verbally and physically. Organized sports have deep bonding communities. Think of all the different city, league and team affiliations. This explains why dedicated fans can be quite emotional about their game experience.
Well-connected people profoundly impact society in many ways. Individual actions and collective movements can drive social change, influence culture, shape policies, and address issues like inequality, environmental challenges, and more. Whether through art, activism, or everyday interactions, each person's contribution can ripple through communities and beyond.
Imagine a world filled with people who are empowered by their feelings.
We’d create the strongest sense of self-worth.
A consideration by:
Candace Johnson
Creator, TOUCHY/FEELY intimacy card game
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