Are You Afraid of Being Alone?

By Sandi Smith

Many people in the United States have a fear of being alone. Here’s my perspective on this topic.

There are 6.2 billion people on the planet. If you feel you are alone, say in your bedroom, this is only an illusion of yours. You are surrounded with the love and care of thousands of other people at all times.

Let’s say you’re in your bedroom, watching TV, and eating an apple. A farmer in Washington contributed to your well-being by growing the tree where the apple came from. Farm workers contributed to your life by picking the apple, truck drivers contributed by transporting the apple to your grocery store, a produce employee contributed to your health by stocking the apple on the stands. Then there’s the check out workers who helped you bag the apple and the store manager who oversees the whole operation. Utility workers provided the water you used to wash the apple before you ate it. And that’s just the contribution people have made toward your life so you could be eating the apple.

Someone grew the trees that were used to build your bedroom furniture, actors, producers and camera persons put together the show you are watching on television, factory workers wove the fabric that makes up your bed sheets, blankets, and carpets. Construction workers built your house, utility personnel provide you with electricity and phone, and retail store workers offered you a huge product selection when you furnished your home with goodies.

You are surrounded with the love and care of thousands of other people at all times.

Think of all the people on the planet that have contributed to the comfort you are experiencing at this very moment. Look around your bedroom and notice every single object in the room. Imagine the chain of people who contributed to creating each object in your room, in all the rooms of your house, in your office, your car, and all the places you visit. This interconnectedness is amazing to conceive of.

How many people have touched your life that you weren’t even aware of before, that you haven’t ever acknowledged? Do you still feel alone?

Can you now consider reframing your fear of being alone? When you see the contribution that thousands of other humans have made in their lives to your life, can you ever really feel alone again?

Perhaps you can reframe your emotion of being alone to an emotion of gratitude and gratefulness for the contribution of others in your life. Being alone on this world of 6.2 billion others is only an illusion in your mind.

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