Loneliness is something that every person struggles with at some point in their life. Friends may have turned their back on you, a close family member may have passed away, or plain distance from people close in your life have caused you to have this feeling.
According to dictionary.com, "alone" is defined as "separate, apart, or isolated from others". However, a dictionary definition can only do so much. There is a much deeper feelings associated with loneliness.
After finishing my freshman year at a college where there are literally 20 other girls within walking distance of my dorm room, I've been struggling with this feeling of loneliness. I went into the summer expecting to have these awesome few months where I spend tons of time with my college and high school friends. Oh how naive I was! The thing is real life happens. People have work, school, family, or are living in a different state!
On top of that, I am watching other people move on to different chapters in their lives. Friends (or family members) get married, or move to a different state, or have children or even go to another country! It's hard to sit by and watch all of this happen and not feel a form of emptiness inside you because you have no experience to match theirs yet. You can rejoice in their happiness, but I think deep down we are mournful because we are not a part of it.
In others words, loneliness can really suck. That's not at all to say you should blame your friends or family for having schedules and a life outside of your relationship with them (because trust me, I have a schedule of my own!). What I am saying is that loneliness is a real, legitimate emotion that hits a lot of people. I think I'm more aware of it at this time more than ever.
The important thing to remember is that loneliness is not the end-all. There is the struggle of feeling like you're the only person, the only one who feels this way, or the only one who doesn't have an exciting life. That's the key time to pause. Stop and look at yourself. Not just a quick glance, but who you truly are at your core.
This is definitely easier said than done. I've been learning to do that and trust me; the struggle is real. But its at this point where you realize who or what is your fulfillment? What is your satisfaction in life? Because I've found that if it solely relies on other people, then I will constantly feel loneliness. We will all still struggle with these feelings of loneliness at some point, but what do we choose to do with those feelings? We can learn who we are and what truly matters to us.
