A report released recently, "identifies loneliness to be a potentially very serious and widespread problem with profound implications but it also highlights the most ‘at risk’ groups and the pattern of loneliness across the life course. It strongly suggests that loneliness has reached unprecedented levels and that it may have as much to do with reduced social connectivity and networks as the quality of the social bonds."
What seems to be at stake here is the ability of people to socialise in a world that values the individual's success over the formation and continuation of community spirit.
Research on the topic of loneliness makes for fairly grim reading, in 2007 34% of women and 33% of men aged 25-44 agreed with the statement ‘Loneliness has been a serious problem for me at times’, " Put another way, one third of both Australian men and women in the prime of life have experienced loneliness as a serious problem at times. "
Why can't we be more like Elephants I ask? A documentary on TV about the socialisation of Elephant groups said that their community bonds are strong and they openly celebrate coming together after a period of separation. It's amazing to see footage of Elephants openly expressing affection for one another.
It appears that the breakdown of communities is threatening the happiness of Australians in an unprecedented way and it may be the spiritual void that needs to be filled. Consumerism and sport may bring temporary relief from loneliness but they are so fleeting as to be inadequate in bringing about change in the way we live our lives and a way to find liberation from the sufferings of the mind.
" The great problem facing modern man is that the means by which we live have outdistanced
the spiritual ends for which we live. " -Martin Luther King, Jr.
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