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Jenn H's avatar

It can be nice to have a positive interaction with a stranger; it gives a little temporary glow. But I don't think of that as a treatment for true loneliness. The deeper connections take time to develop. So even more than going out to meet more new people and making chitchat on planes, I would say: call, text or email a friend you haven't heard from in a while. Ask how they're doing and if they'd like to get together. Call, text or email an acquaintance you'd like to know better and invite them to do something with you.

It's always easier not to; that's why we have to give ourselves little pep talks before doing it!

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Suzie Smith's avatar

My husband always teases me that I can talk to anybody in almost any situation. I was not always like that. I'm very blessed to be in a recovery program that has regular meetings every week. I've been clean and sober for many years now. Very early in my recovery a sponsor instructed me to greet every person at any meeting I went to and introduce myself. I try to do that to this day. Ironically my husband is a somewhat introverted person but used to sell cars for a living. He too had to learn how to reach out to people and greet them pleasantly.

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