At what point did we forget the most important lessons we learned in kindergarten? How to be a good friend, how to get along, how to share space with others? Somewhere along the way, we stopped valuing real connection. Some of us have started to drift further and further away from those who were intentionally placed in our lives. Many convincing themselves that they’re fine, tell- ing the famous “I’m okay” lie.
If you walk into any mall, gym, grocery store, any public space, you will see a sea of people whose eyes will be glued to their phone, headphones in, lost in their thoughts. Many of us are physically present but mental- ly and emotionally absent just going through the motions of life. We have mastered the art of being together but separate. But at what cost?
There was a time when community was the golden ticket in everyone’s life. People knew their neighbors, no one was hesitant in chatting with strangers, and friendships were not limited to social media likes and comments. Somewhere between the rise of technology, the praise in independence, and the normalization of being busy, everyone has stopped prioritizing what they need most- each other.
People say they don’t have time, small talk is unnecessary, or that they’d rather be left alone. But is that really true, or has everyone been corrupted and conditioned to truly believe that? Isolation is not just a personal preference but a crisis. According to the CDC, youth and young adults account for 15% of all suicides. It’s more than a statistic; it is a warning. People are struggling in silence, discon- necting from the one thing that might save them- human connection.
Everyone needs friends. Everyone needs family. And if you’re lucky, you have both. But too many people are go- ing through the motions of life without a strong support system there has been a collective unlearning on how to reach out, listen, and show up. Somewhere during this crazy thing called life, everyone was told to be quiet and that expressing struggles was a sign of weakness. For most it wasn’t directly but definitely indirectly. When was the gift of speaking, sharing, or be- ing present with one another dimmed? And most impor- tantly why was it allowed to happen?
Truth is, no one can do life alone. No matter how much everyone says they’re fine on their own, everyone needs people who will experience their joy and their pain with them. Community is a necessity not a luxury. So maybe it’s time to take the headphones out, smile at a stranger pass- ing by. Time to ask, “How are you?” and mean it and answering truthfully when that question is asked to you. It’s time to check in, listen, and make an effort. Connection isn’t something that is outgrown, but it has to be fought for in Read more at order to be kept.
