Re: Have you ever been lonely?
Nom - thank you for your post #25 giving us the information on the voting record of the so-called Minister for Loneliness. With such as her in charge, we might all just us well give up!!
I can remember sometime ago, a professor of Geriatrics being asked what one single thing would assist the elderly, and he said that the extension of the excellent London Freedom Pass scheme throughout the UK. Meaning that people can get out without having to worry about the cost. Must say, I am extremely appreciative of this and when I last moved, (still then working and not using this pass overmuch, but aware that I was getting older), I was careful NOT to move out of a London borough so as to keep my entitlement. Now I do use it very much.
I have lived by myself for many years, mostly enjoy the freedom it gives to me - eating what I like, when I like, watching tv/radio as and when, etc. etc. Only very, very occasionally do I feel lonely, and this is usually if I am feeling unwell and would love someone to come along and make me something to eat and drink.
Time I can remember feeling really lonely was many years back when I spent four days as an official in a sporting event, staying at the officials hotel. Unfortunately, there was a lot of bad feeling in that sport and much politics and I was on a different 'side' to most of the other officials there. I was so bitterly lonely. Can remember getting home at the end of it, and bursting into tears on the shoulders of the daughter who opened the door, saying I have never, ever felt so lonely.
Like CeeCee, I have had to give up most of the volunteer work I did due to my own ill health and mobility problems. However, I do try to find something each day to work my day around, whether out or indoors. I am fortunate that I keep in touch with all my children, although due to the fact that most live a good way from me, I can see them rarely. Have one daughter living close by and I am very careful not to inflict myself on her too much as she has a highly stressful job, and a busy life as a single mother.
Not sure how any of us can start to tackle this problem, families are increasingly split up and people live much longer and communities do not really exist.