Because I am lonely sometimes, I have compassion for all of the lonely people in the world. While I have know some lonely folks, I never took the time to contemplate the pain inherent in being alone when one doesn’t wish to be. I was too involved with my busy life, full of demands of family and career. Through the pandemic and after, I have spent more time alone than ever in my life. This experience has helped me to understand why loneliness is considered a health hazard. Often compared with the ill effects of smoking, loneliness is associated with seriously negative health impacts, especially for the aged lonely.
