Recently over in my Instagram Stories, I shared a little bit about how I have been feeling lately. It’s also something my husband has been feeling lately. We’ve talked about it quite a lot. This feeling of being alone.
My inbox was flooded with messages. I wasn’t able to keep up in replying to all of them. The messages I was able to get to, as I’m still working my way through them all, each said similar things.
“You’re not alone” or “I could have written this myself.”
So many of us are feeling disconnected from others. Maybe it is this season of life with having kids a few said. Others recalled growing up and how they would go on camping trips and be surrounded by their parent’s friends and their children. Childhood friendships. Or, of having meals with those same people. Then today, feeling like they do not have any friendships like that.
Covid definitely has not helped things with many isolating and doing what they need to do in order to remain healthy and keep their household healthy. It’s been so hard. Many of us turning to social media, which truly isn’t social at all. If anything it just revealed the loneliness even more.
Going through medical and health issues also revealed a lot in our lives. There were those who stayed by our sides and did their best to support us. We also saw many walk away. Which we can understand, it was a very difficult time and some just aren’t sure what to do and how to continue on through times like that.
Why does it feel like it is so hard to make and continue to nurture friendships? Especially as we get older. I know I’m intimidated to introduce myself and try to find my way in any already formed friend groups. Often left feeling like I do not belong even if I do get invited to join in. Though so thankful for the invite.
I found myself in tears the other day as I was driving home, thinking about all of this. I know, that in a way I am also too terrified now to try and form any new friendships because I have also been hurt so many times. So what do you do? Maybe I am an introvert who hasn’t been adopted by the right group of extroverts yet? For now, these are just my ramblings as I continue to process all of this. If you’re feeling the same way, I’m sorry.
[…] Goyette of Discovering Parenthood wrote something recently that really resonated with me. She asks if feeling alone is the new normal. On some level, we’re told that this “season” of our lives (read: […]