​

​
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

That hidden trend has toward isolation and loneliness has reached epidemic proportions in America, according to a report from the former Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy.   He called global attention to the problem in the Surgeon General's Advisory on Loneliness, which showed that we are more cut off from each other than ever before.  He said,
 

"People began to tell me they felt isolated, invisible, and insignificant. Even when they couldn’t put their finger on the word “lonely,” time and time again, people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, from every corner of the country, would tell me, “I have to shoulder all of life’s burdens by myself,” or “if I disappear tomorrow, no one will even notice.”

​

That's tragic.  And in troubled times, it's dangerous.  As long as we feel alone, disconnected, and left out of the mainstream, the less likely we are to join hands and make our voices heard.  Together, we stand, divided we fall.  We need our friends.

​

Not only does loneliness weaken us as a citizenry, it is a threat to our health and longevity.  The Surgeon General goes on: 

 

"Loneliness is ... is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. "

​

We make such a big deal of Loneliness because it afflicts a huge number of older people in America;  Us.  A 2022 study found that when people were asked how close they felt to others emotionally, only 39% of adults in the U.S. said that they felt very connected to others.  1 in 3 of Americans 55+  feel isolated, lonely and on their own.

​

The antidote to loneliness, of course, is friendship.  It's having people you can trust, enjoy being with, and who will be there for you when you are down.  Gatherings of friends, laughing and sharing a meal or an experience, is a boost to us emotionally as well as physically.  Simply put, friendship lets us live longer, more fulfilling lives.

​

We saw one solution to that in our episode on the Wallis Annenberg 'GENSPACE,"  Mrs. Annenberg recently passed away -- the end of an era.  She was a powerful presence in Los Angeles, a generous and ingenious philanthropist who had a love of Nature and the Arts, and it was our hope that her Foundation might merge missions with us and sponsor OURGENPOD.  We know there are solutions, so we are focusing a few episodes on this very important and overlooked topic.  

​

As our country is simmering on the growing flames tourched by our current administration, friendship is more vital than ever.  One good thing emerging from this conflagration is  a new solidarity  among neighbors,  communities, and growing numbers of protesters inflamed by the shocking actions of ICE and every department of our government, with democracy all but dead, we continue to focus on friendship.

​​​

​

​