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julie@absolute-wellness.co.uk
Today is supposedly ‘Blue Monday’ and likely the day people feel at their lowest after the festive period. One aspect of people feeling desolate and sad is loneliness and I’ve heard it discussed a few times on the radio today. Last weekend I had written this article about feeling connected, sparked by a run at the park. I thought about what I’d written today again, as I reflected on loneliness in the article, and so thought it would be the right time to share my thoughts.
So, last weekend I was out a run after my circuits class and it happened to coincide with the local weekly ‘park-run’ event.
I passed many familiar faces and gave some encouragement, and the many people I didn’t know were all smiling and saying hello to me too. I felt good. Despite not being part of the race and running against the group of runners, I had a feeling of gratitude and connectedness. It was in that moment I realised that I know many people locally, (having lived in an area for 14 years and been raising my family here). It was a comforting feeling to feel part of a community. Now I know I run a local business and that’s how I’ve come to know so many people locally, but there are other ways to get to know people and feel part of your community.
Growth through housing in the Gartcosh area has been met with plenty criticism; I really see it differently. There are many opportunities to feel part of the community with social media forums, social clubs, school parent council meetings, toddler groups, churches, children’s clubs and now the local park-run.
Feeling connected to people and being part of a community can really help with your mental health.
Loneliness is something we expect to come with old age and being left on our own. But its far more prolific than we think, and it affects young people from late teens, parents and elderly alike. Where communities are disconnected this can even cost the UK economy (£32 billion a year, according to the Eden Project)
Loneliness isn’t just about being alone but it’s also a sense of feeling unloved or unwanted. You can have many friends and contacts but feel very isolated or disconnected from them and their values. Many people have very little engagement with others and consider their television as being their main source of company. There’s research to suggest that loneliness can be worse for you than obesity (Holt-Lunstad, 2010) and are more likely to suffer from dementia, heart disease and depression.
We can all make steps towards helping others feel more important and wanted; and make efforts to keep in touch with people that we know are alone. All it takes is starting a conversation and making some time for people… simply showing an interest.
Many of us in Gartcosh knew a local man, Jack Watson, before he passed. He frequented the streets of Gartcosh and Drumpellier park with his dog Jamie. We would often chat and I got to know him quite well, and sometimes visit him at his home with my kids. He had a few other people that did the same and this made the biggest difference to his days after he’d lost his wife. A few of us got together and organised a surprise 75th birthday party and he practically walked out the café without his walking aid at the end! The greatest thing was that local people turned up that didn’t know him personally but had seen him and wanted to come along and show they cared.
The spirit of making someone smile and feel better is the biggest gift we have. To go that extra mile for someone in need of your time or company is always remembered. We can all make a difference, and in so doing you will notice a difference in yourself.
If you are feeling lonely, lost or suffering depression then reach out and talk to someone. There’s support all round you if you let people help you. Suicide awareness forums and the Samaritans can help www.samaritans.org or your GP. For CBT or stress management contact julie@absolute-wellness.co.uk