Kestrel the Druid

Loneliness. It’s an emotion that is usually associated with a negative feeling. Often times when someone says they’re lonely, it brings up feelings of sadness, maybe abandonment. Loneliness is what you feel when you feel not heard, misunderstood, or a variety of other emotions.

I was living alone a little while ago, but lonely was never something I actually felt during that time. The ironic thing is that I actually feel lonelier now that my family is with me. Why is that? It is probably because when I was by myself, I felt more freedom. It was also because I never felt let down. Now that my family has joined me, I find it difficult to do all the things I want and need to do on a daily basis.

Others feel lonely simply because they no longer have another physical body with them. They feel uncomfortable being alone with their thoughts and feelings. For these people there is hope. Learning who you are, and what you want are crucial to finding a compatible companion. By spending time alone, you can learn more about yourself. You can break cycles of bad choices and abuse.

My grandmother was someone who was never lonely. She was a very confident woman and loved her independence. She lived alone for the last 20 years of her life. And I never once heard her complain about being lonely. How did she do it? She was very comfortable with herself and kept herself busy with hobbies. She also maintained friendships all the way up until her death at 95. When one friend passed, she simply made two new ones. So even though she was alone, she wasn’t on her own.

If you are feeling lonely, first learn to love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin. Next, get out and start making new friends, cultivate those friendships, and allow them to grow.

For me I’m going to try and build stronger ties with those around me, in order to not feel so alone.