Dear LPG,

Have you ever read a magazine that includes one of those quizzes where, depending on the answers you give, the magazine thinks that it can determine something about you?  Three of my band of best friends and I did, not long ago, and the quiz was trying to work out how lonely you are as opposed to how alone you are.  I worked with two before retiring and the other two were introduced to our group more recently. One moved back to Canada when she retired and so was not present at the time.

Amongst others, one of the questions was, “Is there someone you can telephone, no matter the time of day or night, when you are feeling negative or at your most depressed?” and my friends and I all looked at each other and smiled as we said yes in unison.

 There are times when one really wants to talk and the others don’t but all five of us live alone now and it is really good to know that if I wake up at half past two in the morning I can depend on at least one of them to answer the phone if I call.

As I have got older aches and pains seem to make sleeping through the night a bit of a memory, but knowing that there is someone that I can talk to is really comforting.  The radio helps, but there is something special about hearing a voice that will respond to you even if all they say is “come on now, stop feeling sorry for yourself”.    Quite often when the phone goes in the early hours it is the Canadian fifth of our group.  We all invested in simple smart phones so that Canada is not beyond our reach.  WhatsApp ensures that geography is no longer a reason for losing touch.  It all sounds very complicated, but if I can learn it I think most people will be able to.

So can I say thank you, to my band of friends, for making my life just a little less lonely when it means the most, and let readers know that, no matter how you communicate, it is still the most important aspect of life in my estimation.  

I have learned over the years that most people have times when they need someone to talk to and you don’t have to be lonely, even if you do live alone.   As we are leaving summer again, and getting closer to the shorter days, perhaps it would be a good idea to choose to be at least one someone’s person to talk to.

CP, Sydenham

LPG found some information about WhatsApp…  It all sounds a bit complicated but a younger family member or your family will be able to explain. 

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And please click below if you would like to have a go at CP’s test  

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