#1 ·
(Summary at the end)
If you walked into a hospital, you’d find a massive crowd of sick people. Of course, not everyone there is ill—there’s staff, visitors, and all that—but if you judged the entire world based solely on that view, you’d get a much sicker impression than if you just sat in a public park on a day where the weather is actually decent for a stroll.
Loneliness is something we rarely bring up with friends, our parents, or coworkers. It isn't "socially convenient," and we aren't used to it. I’m using "we" because I suspect it’s true for most people. Feeling lonely during certain stretches of life isn't unusual. It’s human. The reasons vary; sometimes it’s just a minor drag for an evening or two, and other times it really bites. Regardless, I think the feeling is familiar to almost everyone. And since it’s not exactly a topic for Sunday brunch, it’s only natural to look for a space where you can actually talk about it.
This is one of those spaces. It isn't the only one, but it is one of the rare free 😁
That’s why I believe this place is valuable. People are starving for places like this. They need a spot where they can show up and share their loneliness without feeling stigmatized or ashamed. A place where you can vent after a breakup, or share that persistent, lingering solitude—a place where loneliness itself isn't treated as something isolated or pathological.
I had my own periods where it hit me hard. Thinking back on it now makes me a little sad, but I’m grateful this place existed, along with the people here who didn't treat that loneliness like a disease. They were people I could unload my heavy thoughts onto when things felt tight in my chest. This wasn't a cure, but it made some days—some lonely Sundays—a little easier to bear.
I believe there are still lonely people out there today looking for a place where loneliness isn't viewed as an illness, and where you don't necessarily have to talk about the loneliness directly. It’s just *there*. Sometimes it’s the focus, but more often, people talk about everything surrounding it. Looking at the current threads, I’m honestly glad I went through my darkest moments years ago rather than facing them today.
I feel a sudden need to thank this place (which isn't really a physical place, but a collection of diverse people and their thoughts) for simply existing. For being my park where I could go for a walk whenever I needed to. Beyond that, I feel compelled to leave a sign for those still searching for that park—a place where you can be lonely—only to stumble upon a multi-car pileup of topics at every turn. It’s not your fault. I don't know who moved the trauma down here or when, but damn, it happened. Just know that what you see here isn't the full picture of loneliness—loneliness isn't pretty (usually), it isn't sweet, and it isn't dear—but it isn't as bloody as it seems to be here.
Summary for those wondering what the topic is: walking through the park.
If you walked into a hospital, you’d find a massive crowd of sick people. Of course, not everyone there is ill—there’s staff, visitors, and all that—but if you judged the entire world based solely on that view, you’d get a much sicker impression than if you just sat in a public park on a day where the weather is actually decent for a stroll.
Loneliness is something we rarely bring up with friends, our parents, or coworkers. It isn't "socially convenient," and we aren't used to it. I’m using "we" because I suspect it’s true for most people. Feeling lonely during certain stretches of life isn't unusual. It’s human. The reasons vary; sometimes it’s just a minor drag for an evening or two, and other times it really bites. Regardless, I think the feeling is familiar to almost everyone. And since it’s not exactly a topic for Sunday brunch, it’s only natural to look for a space where you can actually talk about it.
This is one of those spaces. It isn't the only one, but it is one of the rare free 😁
That’s why I believe this place is valuable. People are starving for places like this. They need a spot where they can show up and share their loneliness without feeling stigmatized or ashamed. A place where you can vent after a breakup, or share that persistent, lingering solitude—a place where loneliness itself isn't treated as something isolated or pathological.
I had my own periods where it hit me hard. Thinking back on it now makes me a little sad, but I’m grateful this place existed, along with the people here who didn't treat that loneliness like a disease. They were people I could unload my heavy thoughts onto when things felt tight in my chest. This wasn't a cure, but it made some days—some lonely Sundays—a little easier to bear.
I believe there are still lonely people out there today looking for a place where loneliness isn't viewed as an illness, and where you don't necessarily have to talk about the loneliness directly. It’s just *there*. Sometimes it’s the focus, but more often, people talk about everything surrounding it. Looking at the current threads, I’m honestly glad I went through my darkest moments years ago rather than facing them today.
I feel a sudden need to thank this place (which isn't really a physical place, but a collection of diverse people and their thoughts) for simply existing. For being my park where I could go for a walk whenever I needed to. Beyond that, I feel compelled to leave a sign for those still searching for that park—a place where you can be lonely—only to stumble upon a multi-car pileup of topics at every turn. It’s not your fault. I don't know who moved the trauma down here or when, but damn, it happened. Just know that what you see here isn't the full picture of loneliness—loneliness isn't pretty (usually), it isn't sweet, and it isn't dear—but it isn't as bloody as it seems to be here.
Summary for those wondering what the topic is: walking through the park.