Alone

It has rained pretty much all day where I live, which is sad for me since I couldn’t drive down to spend time with John, but good, because it kept me from driving down to spend time with John. You see, he’s got a huge project that is requiring so much of his time and since he works tons during the week, the weekends are of utmost value for him right now. Him having this time a part is helping him concentrate on what he needs to do. Like he says, “we have forever darling.”

I’ve been thinking so much about my friend that lost her husband so many years ago. I think about her sadness and loneliness, and it hurts my heart. I then began to think about my sister-in-law who lost her husband last year and I often wonder how she’s really doing. She’s not even 60 yet and she’s a widow.

When I think of ladies like this, it helps put me in the mind set of wanting to always appreciate the time I do get with John. It also makes me think of how people can be lonely in relationships. They simply go through the motions. Perhaps it’s out of fear that they won’t find anyone else. Funny though, that brings to mind the quote, “it’s better to be alone rather than being with someone who makes you feel like you’re alone.”-unknown.

I am a people watcher by nature. I love sitting and imagining what they are thinking as they whiz on by in a rush to somewhere. I enjoy sitting on my balcony and listening to the kids playing at the nearby park. “Daddy, you can’t catch me,” as the little ones run and try to hide, laughing as hard as they can and forgetting every care in the world. Life can be so simple, yet I believe we tend to make it complicated.

Loneliness is such an empty feeling, one that nobody deserves to feel. When people tell me their stories of loves lost or simply being in a place where they are surrounded by people, yet nobody notices they’re there. I just listen, because I know that feeling. I have felt it for longer than I can remember. My ex used to say, “I came home, didn’t I?” Yeah, but you might be here, but you are absent from me. You only know I’m alive when you need to, well, you know.

“Never allow loneliness to drive you back into the arms of someone you know you don’t belong with.”-unknown.

I know some pretty strong women, and I’m grateful for them. I have one friend that was in a relationship for years, but it ended. He couldn’t love her; he just had her around so he wouldn’t be lonely. She moved out, bought a condo and she’s thriving now. Oh, I’m sure she has lonely moments, but she’s happy. She’s no longer begging to be loved, she loved herself enough to find her worth.

“It wasn’t that she couldn’t love him again, she had done it for so long that the walk back would have been easier than the walk away. It was that she knew he could never love her in the way she wanted to be loved, and for the first time, she realized how important that really was.”-Trudie Jane.

Walking away is one of the hardest things anyone can do. One never knows the true impact until the door hits you on the butt on your way out. Lives are forever changed, and if and when you decide to take that route, think hard before you leave. A wise man told me, “If you can walk away and lay your head on your pillow and know at the end of the day you did everything you could to make it work, you’ll be okay.”-Brian Bennett.

Nobody deserves to be lonely. We can simply, offer a cup of coffee to that older gentleman who lost his wife and walks by our homes every day with his pup. We can stop by and simply, drop off a note letting that widow know, they’re being thought of.

I read something today that said weekends are the hardest for older people who’ve lost their love. You see, during the week they can find things to do, but on weekends, many of their friends are home with their families, so loneliness sets in. Makes sense.

I think this year, I’m going to make more of an effort to drop off a note to my neighbors who I know are alone most of the time. I don’t want to intrude on their life, but maybe a note will be found when they need it most, simply reading, “you were thought of.”

“Never forget a great relationship is worth the wait, the loneliness, even the despair at times.”-quotes creator.

Life is hard enough, the journey and the lessons we need to learn, can be plenty, but for the price of time, without costing a dime, we can extend ourselves to reaching out to someone we know is alone. I promise you this, you’ll feel so good after a conversation with an old timer, or with an artist who’s finally getting their passion back. maybe you’ll even read their journey in a book that is pouring out on the pages of a journal.

Nobody deserves to be alone, unless they want to, but I think it’s important to remember those that were once vibrant and now, even though they would never ask for it, but maybe a cup of tea or simply a gesture of kindness, extended towards them could make all the difference in the world. I’m going to try it, how about you?

Well, this is my rant for the day. I do hope you had a wonderful weekend and don’t forget, until next time, Love Life++