Illustration by Chloe Cushman. Photo credit:NBC News
'All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?'
‘What is it that we hunger for? The modern world would have us look no further than our smartphone…TikTok, Amazon, YouTube, Google…to find that elusive object of our desire. Yet, many are realizing that what we need most, is already within us – if we are willing to ‘let go’. Let go of what? The illusion at the heart of every crisis we face in the world today, every system of oppression. The illusion of separation, that ‘my’ cravings, grievances, conveniences are of paramount importance.’- KOSMOS Journal
Illustration: Getty
Loneliness: The Silent Pandemic
All Together. All Connected. But All Isolated, Separated and Alone
The message is clear: We must create a path to human connection and interaction, if we care about humanity, civility, health and wellbeing.
Lest it has been forgotten, artificial/virtual relationships aren’t the cure for loneliness - they’re a symptom of it.
N.B. I was prompted to revisit my previous writings and analysis of the devastating consequences of loneliness and social isolation across the world when I read a recent publication on this issue about what is happening in Africa, which shook and pained me.
I always had an image of Africa in my head which was in total contrast to what this latest study was portraying. In the past my writings had been mostly about loneliness, social isolation, depression and anxiety, amongst others, in the western world, given the savagery of neoliberalism and values-free education, capitalism and the breakdown in societal and familial values.
Africa falling into the same trap, once again, reinforced the fact that the tragedy of loneliness and its consequences knows no boundaries, no barriers. The tragedy is now epidemic and global.
The tragedy of the modern-day loneliness in the era of virtual connection
‘From time immemorial the yearning for meaningful and shared togetherness has always been powerful. This is what makes us human.
But, today, in this digital/virtual world, I am worried about lonely educators and students, lonely politicians and lonely economists, lonely technology/ IT/computer games designers and developers, lonely children and lonely youth, lonely nurses and doctors, lonely artists and filmmakers, lonely parents and grandparents,...lonely people everywhere…beautifully summed up by the Beatles in Eleanor Rigby:
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
The loneliness epidemic is the blight on our humanity
Rethinking Loneliness: Harnessing New Approaches
This Blog is a humble attempt, a heart-felt offering from a retired academic economist, based on his life journey, experiences, discoveries and more, explaining how modern life is making us lonely, and how we may begin a journey of self-discovery and healing…’-Continue to read
Nota bene
Neoliberalism, an economic ideology devoid of any human and spiritual values, combined with the rise of loneliness and isolation in this so-called digital age, have together destroyed our humanity, who we are and how we live our lives.
What are we to do? How may we embrace economic progress and new technologies, without harming ourselves, controlled and manipulated by them? How may we use them as tools of betterment, creating a better and more contented lives, building a better world, a world of harmony and prosperity for all, away from fear, insecurity, anxiety, rat race, isolation and loneliness?
ALONE TOGETHER ALL ALONE
Photo credit: HelpGuide
“Technology is seductive when what it offers meets our human vulnerabilities. And as it turns out, we are very vulnerable indeed. We are lonely but fearful of intimacy. Digital connections offer the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship…We already filter companionship through machines; the next stage is to accept machines as companions. Soon, robots will be employed in “caring” roles, entertaining children or nursing the elderly, filling gaps in the social fabric left where the threads of community have frayed. Meanwhile, real-world interactions are becoming onerous. Flesh-and-blood people with their untidy impulses are unreliable, a source of stress, best organised through digital interfaces – BlackBerries, iPads, Facebook. We start with the illusion that technology will give us control and end up controlled. We get Blackberries to better manage our email, but find ourselves cradling them in bed first thing in the morning and last thing at night.” - Sherry Turkle, Author of ALONE TOGETHER
The tragedy of the modern-day loneliness in the era of virtual connection
Is Neoliberal Economics and Economists 'The Biggest Fraud Ever Perpetrated on the World?'
Wouldn’t the world be a better place with a bit more kindness? Harnessing the Economics of Kindness
What if Universities Taught KINDNESS?
The Time is Now to Reclaim Our Brains and our Minds from Big Tech
Good on you Ms. Essena O'Neill: Social media 'is not real life'
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
‘Life is so full of unpredictable beauty and strange surprises’
Words from Sting’s “Fragile” song. Photo: Song Meanings and Facts
The Inspiration and Hopeful Words of Dr. Vivek Murthy on Loneliness and Connection and to Value What is Valuable, Precious and Priceless
A must-listen for all the young people, the parents helping their children to climb the ladder of life, the grandparents and the elderly who are facing the epidemic of loneliness on a daily basis, indeed, everyone, regardless of their age or who they are and what they do.
US surgeon general on the epidemic of loneliness and the healing power of family and friends
The loneliness epidemic: In this age of the so-called ‘Social Media’ we're more ‘connected’ than ever - but why are we so alone, so lonely, friendless and isolated?
It’s time to rethink what loneliness is, what it means and what it entails
Photo credit: Via The Guardian
Life Lessons I've Learned in a World of Conflicting Ideas and Aspirations.
Has loneliness become the new normal?
Why 400 physicians and surgeons are committing suicide in the US every year?
Eruption of anxiety, depression and suicide in Britain
Does modern economics makes us unhappy?
A Plea to address Global Youth Depression
Who Am I in this Market-Based and Money-Driven World?
In Search of Meaning in Life: Happiness Revealed
What Can I teach my students in the age of Selfie, Isolation, Virtual friendship and loneliness?
An Open Letter to University Leaders: Students’ Mental and Emotional Wellbeing Must Be Our Priority
Good on you Ms. Essena O'Neill: Social media 'is not real life'
It’s All in The Mind: Focus on Mental Health
Why Happiness Should be Taught at Our Universities
My Economics and Business Educators’ Oath: My Promise to My Students
What if Universities Taught KINDNESS?
Wouldn’t the world be a better place with a bit more kindness? Harnessing the Economics of Kindness
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
Be kind to one another: Kindness Will Set You Free
Photo: Joshua Clay on Unsplash
Life Lessons I've Learned in a World of Conflicting Ideas and Aspirations.
These are the times when we desperately need inspiring and healing words of wisdom, hope and beauty.
A Gift from our GCGI archive to help set us free from chaos and despair, so that we may achieve inner peace and spiritual calm, a more generous and rewarding imagination, inspiring and empowering us to take action in the interest of the common good.
Journey to Healing: Let Me Know What is Essential
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