COMBATING LONELINESS

I listened to a Podcast from "OnBeing" guided by Krista Tippet as she interviewed Vivek Murthy who is the Surgeon General of the United States. The focus of the podcast was on how to "Be A Healer." It was very moving as Dr. Murthy's compassion and love for others came through as he discussed healing others which involves supporting them to become "whole." To be healers, we first need to observe and experience life and receive the joy that is all around us. This also requires that we not allow ourselves to be distracted by all the messages that promote money, winning, taking sides and the "us against them" mentality, as a way of defining who we are. Dr. Murthy says that being whole is not connected with being wealthy. He also states that to heal ourselves and our relationship to others we must listen, learn and love.

I have repeatedly seen that listening to others is critical to having healthy relationships. This also includes listening to ourselves. We can't listen to others or ourselves if we are caught up in the divisiveness and blaming others. This stress will keep us from being confident and being connected to others and from being happy. So, we must choose to let go of stress and blaming others and then choose to listen to others and actually be with others and not feel lonely.