10 Tips for Overcoming Loneliness
“The best time to make friends is before you need them” - Ethel Barrymore
If you’ve gotten as far as this article then you’ve probably already realised the value of spending time with friends. With the advent of social networking sites it has become too easy to distance yourself from “real” friends and surround yourself with digital ones. Digital friends are easier to manage, when you feel tired or irritated all you have to do is switch them off. Real friends are more challenging but the rewards of a genuine friend are far more valuable.
Perhaps social networking can be used as a means to put you in touch with old friends but the important thing to remember is to take it to the next level and arrange to meet up with them.
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Overcoming Shyness
Some years ago I was standing outside a pub when an old blind man walked out the door and stood beside me. I watched with mild interest as he took a lighter from his pocket and lit a cigarette stub in his mouth. I was a painfully shy person at the time but for some reason I thought I’d speak to him. I commented on the bad weather and he agreed that it was pretty awful. I asked him if the rain made it harder to walk with his stick and he said no, he liked walking in the rain because there were less people in his way. Well we spoke for a while about many things including how a lot of the time when people helped him cross the road, he wouldn’t actually need to cross but he would, just to keep them from being embarrassed. He was a pretty funny guy.
Eventually I had to go so I said goodbye and the old man asked if he could have my hand for a second, a little confused I said of course. He took my hand and placed it on his chest for a second and then he let go and said “Thank you, you have touched a heart” and then he left. I was completely taken aback, what an amazing thing to say to a person, I think I beamed for a week! Continue reading »
Filed under Change, Fear, Feelings, Self-esteem, Shyness | Comment (0)
