In a world where connection is just a click away, why do so many of us still feel alone?
Even in this web of friending, liking, hosting, and following, loneliness lingers. Despite constant connection, many feel profoundly isolated. Perhaps it’s the absence of true, physical presence—one-on-one, face-to-face, heart-to-heart.
We shy away from touch while tirelessly collecting followers. Personal space has stretched to a six-foot radius. Outgoing warmth is sometimes met with caution, and personal relationships often yield to the pursuit of “me-time”—a cultural shift that prizes independence over intimacy.
It’s no wonder some of us feel alone, even in a room full of people.
I recently found myself standing in a friend’s front yard, waiting for her to arrive home. The Magnolia tree above me offered shade and stillness. As I stood there, I began to wonder: who else had stood in this very spot? Who else had waited, hoped, breathed here?
And then it struck me—someone else has stood where I am standing. Someone else has been where I am going. Someone else has seen what I am seeing, thought what I am thinking, felt what I am feeling. Even the breath I exhale will be inhaled by someone else.
That moment was humbling. I realized I am not truly alone. Like it or not, we are all connected—in breath, in memory, in presence—even if we never touch another human being.
Have you ever felt unexpectedly connected to someone you’ve never met? I’d love to hear your story.
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