Loneliness

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Are you feeling lonely or alone?

There is a difference between being alone and feeling lonely – in case you are not aware. You can be alone without feeling lonely. You can also be in a crowd and feel terribly lonely. ‘Alone’ is a situation, ‘lonely’ is a negative feeling of isolation, or a longing for connection.

We are born alone, we lead our lives alone, and we die alone. This is a fact of life – an inevitable fact of human existence. It is great to have some company along life’s journey, but despite the company of family and friends, or a spouse, we travel life’s journey on our own. They cannot accompany us throughout life. Each of us has our own destiny.

Being alone can be very nice. You enjoy the solitude and are free to do whatever you like, or you can do nothing at all if you do not wish to. You have ‘alone time’, or ‘me time’ and for those who enjoy their own company, that is one of the best things to have. It is a chance to retreat from the busy, chaotic world outside. No distractions, just pure self indulgence.

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However, not everyone likes the idea of being alone. Indeed, for those who hate being alone, loneliness can be a terrible thing. There is an ache and emptiness in the heart. Some people will do anything to fill that emptiness. If they are not careful, they could end up with bad companies, or bad habits that could ruin their lives.

If you are feeling lonely, take up a hobby, something that you enjoy doing. Or, join a community that has activities that you are interested in. Community gives people a sense of belonging. You mix with people who have the same interest. You make friends. Or you can be a volunteer with a community. The idea is to get active, do something you enjoy! When you are having fun, when you are busy helping others, you have no time to feel lonely.

The people in our lives will not stay with us forever. At some point, we will find ourselves all alone. So, learn to appreciate the pleasure of being alone, learn to enjoy your own company. If you are comfortable with your own company, you will never be lonely.

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