Cheer Up the Lonely - Maybe You, Too!

Do you know a lonely person? Especially since the pandemic isolation has ended, you might be surprised to learn that there are more people who say they’re lonely now than before the pandemic.

Just what is loneliness, anyway? Noted researcher Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad has been studying loneliness for over two decades and says it’s “often defined as being based on the discrepancy between our desired level of connection and actual level of connection.” Before the pandemic, levels of social isolation were rising, and post-pandemic that trend has continued. The worst thing is that social isolation is as bad for our physical and mental health as stress, increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke, and according to some research, increasing the chance of premature death by 15%.

Today is Cheer Up the Lonely Day, started in Detroit Michigan by Francis Pesek, a man who wanted to brighten the days of shut-ins, those who lived alone, and people in nursing homes. It’s celebrated each year on July 11, the day after Francis’ birthday, because that’s the day he focused his efforts on making people feel less lonely.

Everyone is likely to feel lonely at some point in their life, and yet some people live very lonely lives. Think about the people you know who live alone, who might find it difficult to get out of their home, or who live in nursing homes and may not have a lot of visitors. Whose spirits can you lift today? Maybe it’s you who’s feeling lonely? Let the world’s second-shortest podcast help you with a few ideas:

• Feeling lonely and unappreciated? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
• Are you unintentionally isolating yourself? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
• At the end of the day, are you just too tired to interact with friends? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!

Today, even if – no, wait, especially if, you’re feeling lonely, reach out to someone you think might be lonely. Even if it’s just a phone call, it’ll do you both a world of good!

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