So Just What IS Loneliness, Anyway? (Loneliness Defined.)

Hahaha, you suggesting that is all I have to offer, Haha? I am just being silly. I shall go look at my recipes, Haha.

I guess my idea of what " loneliness" is has changed with age. There are times when I'm around others that I feel like a loner, and other times when I'm by myself that I don't feel lonely, but content.

I drew the same exact conclusion. I think those who get consumed with the idea of somebody watching them are either partaking in something illegal or socially unacceptable, or who are feeling so alone and yearn to be seen. Nice to know that I am not the only one. I think that is a bonus to why we have our God watching over us, night and day, we are never alone. Plus, when things seem so mysterious in our lives that it seems somebody has to be listening in, almost microscopically honing in, that to me is Him revealing His presence to us.

Uh huh

Disconnectedness from interpersonal relationships either formal or informal, acquainted or not characterized by sensations of detachment or disinterest as well as isolation and a lack of inclusion. Either self induced, pathological, natural (due to geographic dislocation for example) or imposed. In my opinion it's a chronic lack of interaction with others on a day-to-day or semi regular basis. Human beings are social animals. Some thrive on minimal social interaction, but I do believe we all need to at least feel a part of the bigger society or else quite literally we go mad.

Clearly, your thinking and way of articulating the process and conclusions are pretty darn impressive, fellow forum dweller.

Loneliness is having no friends and knowing that no one cares.

It's the 'no one cares' that hurts the most.

And I forgot to add it's worst when you find out that people u thought were you friends weren't really your friends after all. (I don't mean you, Tourist)

For me, people are OK in small amounts. I have limits. Mostly, I tolerate people, but I feel much better relating to someone online. In public, I can only take so much. 👌 Little bits of social interaction is all. Very tiny.

Sometimes people make it hard to like them.

Um my first self centered thought was dang that hurt, lol. Then most of my senses came flooding in as I thought about it, it is so true; all of us, even to ourselves, have unlikable, getting on nerves, moments. So I just wanted to say this about that... BAM, ain't that the truth, lol?!!

One must not convince themselves that this has to be this way. But at lonely times, I confess that I too feed on these kinds of thoughts. Bless our hearts, lol... , hugs.

Aweeee, dog gone it. This shows our need and calling to reach out to lonely ppl, showing tender loving care. But wait..:0, not in a creepy mcCreepy, get a restraining order, kinda way, hahaha

Just a little creepy, but definitely not protective order creepy.

How YOU doing?

Your humor is an awesome gift, well received often, lol. I had to use the conditional often to allow for those moments when they go over my head, lol, or when the content is hyper sarcastic, leaving the one on the receiving end a wee wounded, lol. Seriously though, thinks for keeping it witty.

Is this a test to see just how self centered and vain one can be? I was like, who is he talking to. Haha shoot, clearly the cat is out of the bag. I revealed my true colors.

I think the general thought is that if we have people in our life, and sometimes even the more people, the better, we won't have any problems with loneliness.

Ironically, one of the biggest things that's helped me over the past few years is to slowly distance myself from one-side relationships. For example, I had a "friend" who called me and literally talked for an hour straight, and not once in that entire time did she ever ask anything about me or my life. After we hung up, I thought about the fact that our entire "friendship" had been pretty much been that way, and so that was a tie I chose to cut off.

I have nothing against people talking, of course--it just has to be a mutual, because I've found that just listening 100% of the time greatly contributes to my loneliness. I've also worked to distance myself from people whose unhealthy actions and/or frames of mind I knew I was actually enabling instead of helping, and I've had much more peace since then.

Yes, it's definitely led to me having far fewer people in my life, but I also feel a bit more clarity and focus.

However, I do struggle with the thought of selfishness, because I know that God calls us to serve, and we often do that best when we are giving to someone who can't, or won't, give back--even in the form of a one-sided conversation.

And yet, I also know that I have limited energy, so trying to find that balance of trying to be there for people, especially when they have nothing to give, and yet taking care of myself enough to be able to do so is always a personal challenge.

It's a line from back in the day.
Joey on friends would say it to pretty ladies.
I used it so you would know I was talking to you.