Loneliness

Like Dan, I think that I will take advantage of my blog to every now and then share my thoughts with the world. Maybe it is one way I can make a difference. Lately I've been thinking a lot about loneliness. I've noticed that in a lot of t.v. shows and movies the characters talk a lot about being lonely. A lot of people I know feel lonely most of the time. I think everyone, at some point, feels lonely, no matter what life they have. In the news there have been several articles and reports on the uprising of Internet addiction. Not to pornography, but just to the Internet in general. I think that the reason for that is the Internet is an easy way to feel connected. To feel like you are doing something about your loneliness. The only problem is that it is not real. It is the easy quick solution that, just like a "lose-weight quick diet", it doesn't stick. While we are surfing the web, and talking to "friends" in chat rooms the world is passing us by. I think the reason that people are feeling more and more lonely is because they put so much effort into a "virtual" community, that we are losing a sense of our true community and family. I noticed the other day that I checked my email 10 times in an hour, just to see if someone was there. Meanwhile I could have spent that time playing with my kids or going out and talking to my neighbors, who happen to be actual people with real words to hear, not to be read. If I was so desperate to hear from someone, why couldn't I just pick up the phone and call? I am not saying the Internet and e-mail are bad, obviously I am using it right now. I just think that the world could use a little less virtual connection and more personal connection. So maybe next time instead of sending an e-mail to say "hi" to a friend, just pick up the phone. You'll be surprised how good it feels to hear a real voice every now and then. I think that if we did that, there would be a lot less loneliness.