Happy Tuesday!
Thank you so much for your meditations on meditation yesterday - they were great and I am always heartened to know that I am not the only person who struggles to "slow" it all down!
Another deep topic for today - loneliness.
I have been fortunate in my life - I think I have only suffered from loneliness once or twice in my life, both times were the result of moving to a new place - once when I was 14, the other time when I was 23 - and not knowing anyone for awhile. If you are familiar with Myers-Briggs, my introvert-extrovert rating is even; that is, I feel comfortable doing public things, but I need to retire back home and re-charge my batteries. I was the child who liked to go to slumber parties until about midnight, then I wanted to go home to my own bed. My father was not impressed. I have always had some good close friends and many acquaintances to call upon when required.
I have a close family member - not of my immediate family - who is suffering from loneliness. When she married 12 years ago, she let her friendships all whither away. Now she finds herself at home as a result of slowly losing her eyesight and needing rehabilitation (my gosh this does sound like a Bronte novel, doesn't it) and she is very lonely. I have encouraged her to reconnect with her old friends and explore courses and online blogs, especially those geared at people in similar situations as she (she has the magnifiying tool for her monitor), but would love some other suggestions for her, if you have any. She is working with the Canadian Institute for the Blind and they are being good to her, but what she really wants is to make some friends. She is 53 years old and quite shy, but is feeling very sad that at 53 years of age she has no non-family friends. I am sure you all have lots of good advice and I would love to be able give her some of your brainpower. Have any of you gone through anything similiar and how did you cope? If you feel able to share that would be so great!
This got me to thinking quite a bit about my own situation. Since i have been off work, I have been home almost all of the time. Most of that is self-imposed, but I can see how necessary it would be, should I choose to work from home permanently or for awhile, to have regular connections. This blog and the other blogs I visit regularly are the real social parts of the workweek thus far. I have ceased surfing the net unless it is for purposeful reasons and now just check on you all to see what you are up to.
My husband is here quite a lot as he is working from home for his business, but he is out frequently at meetings. Do those of you who work at home plan regular outings with friends or colleagues during the workweek? I am by my nature a very social person, though I have relished the quiet tranquil pace of the last few months. Now I am feeling restless to begin to see people during the week now and then, not only on the weekend. Any suggestions as to how to do this without suddenly becoming overly social and not getting your work done? Would love some advice? I am also planning to add in some dedicated volunteer time to give back to the community if I do not go back to working 80 hours a week!
I don't want to end up like this:
Thanks so much for all your thoughts and comments - they are so appreciated! Stay Safe out there!
Thank you so much for your meditations on meditation yesterday - they were great and I am always heartened to know that I am not the only person who struggles to "slow" it all down!
Another deep topic for today - loneliness.
I have been fortunate in my life - I think I have only suffered from loneliness once or twice in my life, both times were the result of moving to a new place - once when I was 14, the other time when I was 23 - and not knowing anyone for awhile. If you are familiar with Myers-Briggs, my introvert-extrovert rating is even; that is, I feel comfortable doing public things, but I need to retire back home and re-charge my batteries. I was the child who liked to go to slumber parties until about midnight, then I wanted to go home to my own bed. My father was not impressed. I have always had some good close friends and many acquaintances to call upon when required.
I have a close family member - not of my immediate family - who is suffering from loneliness. When she married 12 years ago, she let her friendships all whither away. Now she finds herself at home as a result of slowly losing her eyesight and needing rehabilitation (my gosh this does sound like a Bronte novel, doesn't it) and she is very lonely. I have encouraged her to reconnect with her old friends and explore courses and online blogs, especially those geared at people in similar situations as she (she has the magnifiying tool for her monitor), but would love some other suggestions for her, if you have any. She is working with the Canadian Institute for the Blind and they are being good to her, but what she really wants is to make some friends. She is 53 years old and quite shy, but is feeling very sad that at 53 years of age she has no non-family friends. I am sure you all have lots of good advice and I would love to be able give her some of your brainpower. Have any of you gone through anything similiar and how did you cope? If you feel able to share that would be so great!
This got me to thinking quite a bit about my own situation. Since i have been off work, I have been home almost all of the time. Most of that is self-imposed, but I can see how necessary it would be, should I choose to work from home permanently or for awhile, to have regular connections. This blog and the other blogs I visit regularly are the real social parts of the workweek thus far. I have ceased surfing the net unless it is for purposeful reasons and now just check on you all to see what you are up to.
My husband is here quite a lot as he is working from home for his business, but he is out frequently at meetings. Do those of you who work at home plan regular outings with friends or colleagues during the workweek? I am by my nature a very social person, though I have relished the quiet tranquil pace of the last few months. Now I am feeling restless to begin to see people during the week now and then, not only on the weekend. Any suggestions as to how to do this without suddenly becoming overly social and not getting your work done? Would love some advice? I am also planning to add in some dedicated volunteer time to give back to the community if I do not go back to working 80 hours a week!
I don't want to end up like this:
Thanks so much for all your thoughts and comments - they are so appreciated! Stay Safe out there!
