credit: olsen web

This woman’s reply to what it’s like to never get married and live alone for 56 years breaks my heart:

Life was great and fun and exciting until I hit 40. I looked back on my life and realized the wonderful experiences I had, but something nagged at me.

By 50, I understood that life may have been richer if I had shared those experiences with someone. By 53, it became alarmingly clear to me, that I had no one to tell my stories to. And more importantly, I had no one to tell me their stories.

I had some health scares. I had to hire people to help me as I had no one in my life to help me. That was a huge wake up call. Going into middle to old age with no one by my side.

Sure, it is great to spend time alone and be at ease in your own skin. But after 56 years, I realize humans are “herd” animals. We want to share. We want to feel love. We want to feel like we are a part of something greater than our own thoughts.

For me, I have a very lonely life. I personally would not recommend it. Loneliness is unbearably painful at times.

If I had to do it again, I would not have chosen this lifestyle.

This is precisely why everyone should be extra kind to the lonely.