The Editor,
We’re getting closer to Bell Let’s Talk Day (Jan. 30) and I thought I would share some observations from personal experience.
Loneliness doesn’t just affect seniors. Loneliness and social isolation are contributing factors to poor mental health for many people in our community.
We all put on our game faces when we step out the door to face the world each day but the minute we get home, off comes the mask, and for some it can be a real struggle to connect with people. Sometimes those who seem happiest in public are, in reality, very lonely but afraid to say so.
In the past I have been told that I try too hard to connect with people and come across as desperate at times. In reality, I just want someone to connect with. Too often, I see people in my building with their heads down, breezing past neighbours; they look at me strangely when I greet them.
At the same time, I can and do get peopled out from having to be “on” all the time, and on days like that, I turn the ringer on my phone off and shut the world out.
Another thing that I need to do for my own well-being is no matter how I am feeling when I walk into work, I stop, take a breath and acknowledge my fellow co-workers with a friendly greeting. For me there is nothing worse than walking into a cloud of negativity first thing in the morning.
It’s easy to tell someone to just be happy and get on with their day, but what are each of us doing to ensure that our worksites are a positive and welcoming place?
During the recent civic election, in which I was a candidate, I often said community begins with a simple “hello.” This is so very true, even more so for those experiencing loneliness and social isolation.
Rob Bottos, Coquitlam
