I have been intrigued by the deep friendships that can form between animals and people. After COVID, I have noticed in my practice that many people suffer from terrible loneliness. They may or may not work but they have tremendous difficulty in establishing friendships. When I ask what they do, they often sigh and say 'since the death of my partner, or since I retired, I am very much alone'
Insurance companies will tell us that mortality rates increase after the death of a spouse or retirement. It is the loneliness that leads to depression and in some cases suicide.
I used to encourage clients to join groups, or activities but that often degenerates into a frantic search for a partner. They spend their time on social media or trying to connect. It rarely if ever succeeds.
I am now convinced that people need more than a job, or a career or casual friends but they need a very deep motivation or reason why they are here. For many of us, it is our families and grandchildren who may inspire us. For others, it is volunteer and charity work but in order for anything to assist with this malaise, the individual must search for what is is ultimately important to them and what will last.
I find very often we chose temporary pleasure or passtimes to fill this ache. Thus we throw ourselves into projects, or gardens but then winter comes or the project ends. Or we spend time with grandchildren and they grow and move away. None of these last.
The only thing that truly lasts is our relationship with the Eternal God. He does not age, there is no 'retirement age' and the only thing He asks of us is our love and worship. Nothing will separate us from the love of God, not even death itself. If you find yourself alone and feeling forgotten, try God and return to church. You will find an everlasting relationship therein.
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