On Loneliness

Musings From a Connection Planner

When I was going into the 4th grade my parents sold our home in Mahopac, NY and moved to Katonah, NH. I knew it was coming and I knew that I was going to be leaving the home and neighborhood I had lived in since I could remember. My neighborhood was idyllic, with latch key kids who gathered after school to build ramps and fly off of them with our bikes. We built forts and went for hikes in the “woods” behind our houses. A great day was measured by how much Bactine we had to use to clean up our cuts and scrapes. A phenomenal day was one where we were given a dollar bill and permission to walk to the local Italian bakery that had a counter that sold about 50 different flavors of Italian Ice. 

The next neighborhood was more isolated. The houses were not on top of one another and spontaneity ended. There was no riding of bikes and building of ramps. Rather, it was making ‘plans’ to meet up with other kids. And that is where it all began. I am not an impulsive person. I love people who are. People who have that energy. But me? Nope. I need a plan. I also am perfectly OK with being alone. I am not OK, however, with being lonely.

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash