A new Oxford study looked at twenty European countries and found something that hurts to read. Nearly half of low-income people feel lonely. Not occasionally. Not once in a while. Chronically. Even though they socialize just as much as folks with higher incomes.
And the pain doesn’t stop there. Loneliness among the poor is tied to real physical symptoms. Fatigue. Pain. Low mood. It’s not just sadness. It’s wear and tear. On the body. On the spirit.
But here’s what caught me. Social connection still helps. It doesn’t erase poverty, but it softens the blow. Especially for those who need it most.
That feels important. In a time when so many fixes sound expensive or abstract, this one’s surprisingly simple: make sure nobody has to carry it all alone.
You know what I wonder? Maybe loneliness isn’t about how often we’re around people. Maybe it’s about how deeply we feel seen when we are.
So I’ll ask you. When did someone last really see you? And who have you made feel less alone?
Let me know in the comments and check out more at jamesbrowntv.substack.com.
On that note, I’m James A. Brown, and as always, be well.
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