More often than not, loneliness is a lot more than being alone. Affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, it leads to a surge of negative emotions such as depression, demotivation and ideations of self-harm. Being physically alone is not the only type of loneliness, people can feel its sting even when they are surrounded by family, colleagues or friends.

While loneliness is a basic human emotion that can be temporary for some, others might struggle with it on an everyday basis. If left unchecked, it can also give rise to serious mental disorders.

Cheer Up The Lonely Day, which falls on July 11, aims to spread awareness about the subtle signs of loneliness and its noxious ramifications. On this day, people are encouraged to cheer up those who seem to be out of sync and have difficulty in showcasing general social behavior.

5 Ideas To Celebrate The Day

  • Reach out to a friend who constantly feels melancholic, and try to help him/her understand the origin of this feeling. To avoid making the person feel ashamed, begin with validating his emotions and encouraging him to open up.
  • Hang out with your lonely friend, do some fun activities, and ask the person to reach out to you whenever the feeling strikes.
  • Give that friend a thoughtful gift, something that he/she would cherish forever.
  • Take your pet for a visit at his/her home as it will do its regular job of lifting up a dull day.
  • Remind your friend of the funniest sitcoms you watched as a kid, and encourage him/her to watch them again.

Quotes about loneliness that emphasize how strong the emotion is: (Courtesy: The Brand Boy and Quote Unquote)

  • "The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly."- F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • "We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness."- Albert Schweitzer
  • "Loneliness is the ultimate poverty."- Pauline Phillips
  • "Loneliness is about the scariest thing out there."- Joss Whedon
  • "This world that I live in is empty and cold, the loneliness cuts me and tortures my soul"- Waylon Jennings
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A lonely person Pixabay
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