Is There Anybody Out There?

I have read a number of articles about loneliness recently. I notice that the media will latch on to a certain theme and suddenly it pops up everywhere - telly and radio. Anyway, last weekend it was loneliness - with a slightly different spin you might wonder? What could be so very newsworthy, hasn't loneliness always been a human 'thing'?

Well apparently I read that in this day and age because we are all so very work oriented and focussed on the daily grind, we don't have time for one another, leisure and pleasure time. And because we communicate electronically, we seem to think that this will suffice our human need to connect. And in order to chase employment we often have to move away from our roots; family and friends. There are also a number of friendships that break down due to the increasing divorce levels that cause social allegiences to go awry. And of course there is the recession and the rise in unemployment coupled with our diminishing pensions which means that we have less disposable income for going out and entertaining even if we wanted to. Oh and I nearly forgot about the number of people who simply become too depressed to want to socialise in any respect.

So is all of this new and newsworthy? Is loneliness really on the increase or has it always been a part of the human condition that most of us have to face at some time or another? There must be something in the air for the media to make it the fad of the mnoment.

Perhaps for football fans the big international game will bring a little camaraderie back into our lives. And another observation - when we are involved in something or other, even an emergency or catastrophe, we seem to evolve as human beings, relate and show compassion and empathy, which we soon forget for some reason when we are living less eventful lives.

And the articles inform us that being alone does not equate with loneliness, well we are not morons. Most would know this to be the case.

Perhaps the odd smile here and there might not go amiss. We often pass the time of day on public transport, queuing in shops, waiting at the photocopier, sitting in the canteen, why not occasionally take a leap of faith and try being friendly, have a natter to break the quiet. This might help cushion the insular feelings that can so often cause so much sadness and make us question if we are being shunned and whether we conduct ourselves appropriately or not. In 99 percent of cases it is more to do with society in general going wrong, and at this moment we are going through the most dreadful slump. Each individual however makes up the mass and so we only have ourselves to blame, and only we can each do something to change things for the better.

Through A Rose Tinted Wine Glass

On one of our balmy evenings recently, whilst outside enjoying an evening meal in the garden and I must also add following a couple of large glasses of wine, I decided that I would put the world to rights.

It all took shape in my mind by looking at things from the perspective of an alternative universe.

"What if it was just a normal thing to have a three day week end" I said to my husband and son, "or even better, just a three and a half day workiing week", I was getting enthusiastic for this idea.

They both looked at me - "Nah, it wouldn't be feasible" said my husband, always a pessimist I think. However I continued with my plan.

"For if we shared work across the week, then there would be more job opportunities," my enthusiasm gathering. "Less people out of work and more challenging roles for all those poor disillusioned graduates who are leaving university with nothing to do." My husband muttered something about it being a very nice concept but - I knew he was about to interrupt my flow with boring things like economic necessity so I carried on very quickly.

"Yes but, with all the extra time that we had off, we could do all the things that we only ever dreamed of, develop and create more work or find self employment opportunities". Boy I thought, why am I not the PM.

"Yes Dad, like you could restore vintage motor bikes", I love my son he's a real chip off the. "And Mum could write books couldn't you Mum?" Like I said - off the old block. "The likelihood is though Mum," my son continued with a serious expression on his face, "is that most people would be forced to look for two jobs instead of one to make ends meet."

"Exactly so" my husband said in that tone of voice which simulataneously means 'told you so'.

"Nice try though" my son said giving me a pitying smile - my consolation prize.