You can be surrounded by people and still feel deeply lonely.
In this episode, I record a quiet reflection while walking through a park in Bend, Oregon. I notice people connecting in small ways, waving, walking dogs, sharing space. It sparks a conversation about loneliness, and how different it is from simply being alone.
Being alone can be a chapter of life. A breakup. Loss. Aging. A season where more responsibility falls on you and there is less time or energy for deep social connection. That does not automatically mean loneliness.
Loneliness often comes from feeling separate. From believing we are fundamentally different from the people around us. This can happen because of political beliefs, religious views, personal values, or even inside long-term relationships.
Many people feel lonely while partnered, married, or surrounded by others. The issue is not proximity. It is perceived disconnection.
In this episode, I talk about how small moments of connection matter. Saying hello. Smiling. Helping someone else. Allowing others to be different without seeing that difference as a threat.
I also talk about aging, identity, and why developing a grounded sense of self while in relationship may be one of the most protective things we can do for our emotional health.
This is a gentle conversation about kindness, openness, and how loneliness can soften when we stop seeing ourselves as separate from the world around us.
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Free eBook to help you live long and live well! Download your 6 Healthy Aging Habits Ebook and start putting the steps into action. Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Doctor Turned Health Coach by Mohammad Ashori MD. I would love your support by subscribing to this podcast, sharing it with someone you love, and leaving me a review on your favorite podcast app. Disclaimer: I care about each listener and want you to receive care that fits your life and medical needs. Always speak with your own licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any health plan, medication, or routine. The information in this podcast is for general education. It is not medical advice. Listening does not create a patient–doctor relationship with me.
-Dr. Ashori MD
