Loneliness Awareness Week: The Signal of Loneliness

Dear Friends,

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week and it’s time to talk about loneliness – what it is/isn’t, the unhelpful and baseless stigma that it holds, and, of course, what we can do about it.

Loneliness is a temporary feeling related to the gap between your perceived experience versus your desired level of social interaction. You can be lonely and surrounded by people. You can be alone and not lonely (needed solitude). You can have friends and be lonely due to the lack of feeling a deep connection. Being lonely is not reflective of your worth, but rather an experience that every human has. Feeling lonely can be a moment in a day or week or for a longer period of time.

It is really critical for us to recognize and think of loneliness as a signal, exactly like thirst or hunger, that lets us know we need to take action and motivates ourselves to do so.

I often share how I have moved 28 times in my life (between four countries and eight states), so I know all too well what it’s like to be lonely and isolated. 

I also know how I found a sense of belonging, connection, and support in my many different neighborhoods. So, when I moved back to the US after six years abroad, I was so excited to finally be “home.” I had really high hopes about what my Wilton, CT neighborhood experience would be like. 

Although people were absolutely friendly, there were no invites for neighborhood gatherings, I didn’t see any kids playing outside, or really anyone outside of their cars unless they were fellow dog owners walking. It felt empty.

So, after a few years of hoping and waiting, I decided to do something about it and launched a block party initiative in my town. In an effort to strengthen neighborhood connections and create opportunity for face-to-face conversation and neighborhood free play, we called it “Wilton’s Big Block Party Weekend.”

That inaugural weekend in June 2018, we had over 40 different block parties with over 1,200 residents!!  (The picture is from my road.) This is how I gave loneliness a voice and took action to make change – for myself, my neighbors, and for my town. And now, it’s not only changed my life for the better, but for thousands of others too.

It’s crazy to look back at what I said in May 2018 (eight years ago, pre-COVID!) in the following quote: “Every single week we read a news report on how children, teens, and adults are suffering from ever-increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Recently I read that half of all Americans are lonely, and the younger generations are actually more lonely than older people. The UK appointed a Minister of Loneliness earlier this year! The amount of time we spend having face-to-face social interactions is directly correlated with our mental health, life quality, and even our life expectancy. Block parties are the perfect venue to reach all ages.”

This reality is even more true now, and it’s the perfect time for action.

This summer, you can be a part of a nationwide initiative with American Summer, Block Party USA’s nationwide call for neighbors to throw micro-local neighborhood gatherings in celebration of our country’s 250th. Gather with your neighbors anywhere in proximity to where you live, in your cul-de-sacs, shared yards, driveways, apartment courtyards, or condo common areas, anytime from now through Labor Day weekend! Already had your block party or have a plan? Don’t forget to add your party to the count!

ICYMI: 

We had some exciting news here in Connecticut! I’m absolutely thrilled to share that Governor Ned Lamont made Good Neighbor Day, September 28th, an official day of recognition in Connecticut!

National Good Neighbor Day celebrates the simple but powerful acts that bring people together and make our neighborhoods stronger. This reflects our Connecticut values that make our families, communities, and state stronger — service, connection, joy and play, and looking out for one another.

Thank you to all CT legislators for their bipartisan support in helping make this day an official part of Connecticut’s calendar. We are making history by creating a permanent state-recognized Good Neighbor Day and inspiring constituents from other states to do the same!

PS: I’d love to see you at my next Zoom Office Hour on Tuesday, June 30th from 3:00–3:30 pm ET. While you can sign up at blockpartyusa.org/office-hours for reminders, you can just show up, too, using the Zoom Meeting ID: 820 0975 1912 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82009751912