LONELINESS

I don't remember ever really suffering from this, though I know others who do. It really is terribly sad to discover that a lot of people ARE lonely. But what IS loneliness? Who suffers from it? What causes it? When does it occur? Can it be cured?

I can't honestly pretend to be able to answer all these questions, and quite frankly I'm not sure I'm qualified to try and do so. I have done a little research on the subject, though, and I'm convinced that you can deal effectively with loneliness by increasing your physical and social activities. Join a club, any club, or an association, any association. Take up a new activity, a new hobby, such as painting, or pottery, or solving puzzles, or making small models. Design your own clothes, write a book, or a diary, or poetry. Read, and read, and read: other people's experiences will undoubtedly make your own suffering lighter. Chat on the internet, or by sms. Send e-mails. Look for information on the internet - there are literally millions of interesting webs you can browse through. Reach out, with your hand, with your phone, with your mind. There's always someone out there waiting for YOUR call.

But above all, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. You probably don't think it's true, but you are the object of admiration of more than one person. Other people really do like you. Other people love you. Other people think you're great, fun, interesting. DON'T LET YOUR SELF-ESTEEM GET LOW. Try looking at yourself in the mirror every morning and say to yourself over and over again: "I AM SPECIAL, I AM SPECIAL" Because you really ARE special. I think, I really do think, you're very special.

Although ultimately commercial, these links seem interesting.
http://www.selfesteem4women.com/index.php?ad=
http://www.retirement-matters.co.uk/gparchive/loneliness.htm
http://www.seniors.gov.au/internet/seniors/publishing.nsf/Content/Loneliness+and+social+isolation
Spanish speaking readerswill find these links quite useful.
http://revista.consumer.es/web/es/20011001/interiormente/
http://www.elmundo.es/magazine/m64/textos/soledad1.html

Some songs that tackle "loneliness are:
Goodbye my loneliness by Zard (will really make you feel on top of the world!)
Loneliness by Tomcraft / The loneliness by Babyface / Killing loneliness by HIM /
4 seasons of loneliness by Boyz II men / love steals us from loneliness by Idlewild /AND MORE

Here's one song, though, that stands high above the rest. The lyrics are beautiful, the music is lovely, the voice is so special - Gladys Knight - Help me make it through the night. I just Love it! She starts by dedicating it to "especially for all of you out there...." . (Try Elvis Presley's version too - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2yMPsAsHQY