This is on top of the usual anguish of grief, depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
So I wrote this letter to everyone whos facing these challenges.
The holiday lights twinkle, the music plays, the anticipation of holidays, and then… the loneliness.
1 in 4 adults worldwide report feeling fairly or very lonely.
Its worse among those between 15-30 years of age.
Thats according to a recent Meta-Gallup survey of more than 140 countries.
It comes at a life-cost equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Loneliness- along with grief, regret and lost love- are a familiar presence in most households.
But they can be intense enough to transform a holiday into a struggle to get over.
Pain specialists point out that were addicted to the pain we know.
It may be painful, but its familiar; its safe.
Admitting the need to love and be loved can feel like a departure from that safety.
Working too hard
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Number 3?
Lacking the courage to express their feelings
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Number 4?
In death, they understand the vital importance of lifes most important asset: Time.
Asserting boundaries is hard, but theres a life cost to not doing it.
As painful as living in the past may be, its familiar… and that feels safe.
No wonder the book became a best-seller.
…So heres this years holiday wish for each and every listener.
May you have the courage to accept emotional risk
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Embrace vulnerability and therefore opportunity.
Vulnerability is the birthplace of courage, innovation, creation and change.
Numb the dark, and you numb the light… How things unfold isnt the point.
What is, is that you will have tried.
