| Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay |
I have a habit of engaging in what some people might perceive as "lonely" behavior. For example, I very much enjoy going out to eat alone. I love going out to eat in general––if I have company, that's great. If I don't, then I don't. There's too much good food out there to miss out on! Additionally, I also enjoy going to the movies alone. You won't believe the looks I get when I mention this; does everything have to be a social outing with multiple people? I don't understand why I shouldn't go see a movie by myself if I want to.
People shared their experiences after Redditor RAM-exe asked the online community,
"What's the loneliest thing you've ever done?"
"Went to a hotel..."
"Went to a hotel by the beach. It was raining all day and night. The only people in the hotel were me, two other guests, and the front desk. I watched movies and walked on a lonely rainy beach."
Sounds a bit dreary. But if you were happy, then by all means.
"I was living abroad..."
"I was living abroad and went to the airport just to find someone to speak English with."
I have also been abroad and hunted for people to speak English with––and they helped me with the local language! It worked out nicely.
"I traveled to another state..."
"Going to a bar alone on a Tuesday.
I traveled to another state for work, I was there alone just during the week. One night I was bored so I Ubered to a movie theater/bar. There was NOBODY there. I was literally the only person sitting at the bar. It sucked."
"Was abroad..."
"Was abroad when Covid hit and in a lockdown situation when my mother passed away back home. I could talk on the phone to family, but I grieved alone."
My condolences. Sadly, there are so many people out there in similar situations.
"It's no surprise."
"I'm a truck driver. There's a lot of lonely days and nights. I come home to an empty house most of the time. Occasionally my housesitter will cook or bring me dinner. I go to the gym at 2 or 3 am because there's typically no one there.
It's no surprise, I kinda find joy in being alone."
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"When I was 22 or so..."
"When I was 22 or so, I threw my back out, and I would look forward to my chiropractor appointments not just for pain relief, but also and mostly because it meant someone would touch me."
"Sat on the beach..."
"Sat on the beach alone in the rain. Then just drove around for hours soaking wet."
"I once went..."
"I once went to Six Flags alone when I was on a work trip. My hotel gave me a free ticket because they felt bad that I mentioned paying to go alone."
Hey, free trip to Six Flags? Sounds like a win-win if you ask me.
"I lived alone..."
"I lived alone and after my little cat died my house was unbearably quiet and sad. I started having conversations with a spider on the wall and I don't even like spiders."
"Tore a small strip..."
"Tore a small strip from the gift wrapping from the previous year's Christmas, and put the strip inside my shirt by my neck so I would have something nice touching me and I wouldn't feel so alone."
If you are struggling with loneliness, there are ways to get some help. Loneliness can lead to some serious health issues over time.
You never know who might need Crisis Text Line. Pass it on and tell the people in your life to text HOME to 741741 if they're ever in crisis. Additionally, SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service.
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