Loneliness has become an epidemic. We're so connected to others with our phones via text or social media, but it all can feel empty after a while. Sure, you can speak to whoever you want with just a few taps of your thumb, but usually it takes on a hollow feel after a bit. It can make you wonder if the person on the other end of the conversation is actually paying attention or just throwing out a few words to make it seem like they are interested in what you are saying. Or worse, they leave you on read, or open the message and just do not reply. It can make someone feel less than. Like they do not matter.

You will find none of that with me. I, at one time in my life, had the worst social anxiety one could have. I have social skills, but having them and putting them into practice are two different things entirely. I would find myself standing off to the side and observing. It was painful at times. One night, I happened upon a person in a chatroom who actually took the time to talk back to me. They were empathetic, compassionate, understanding, and most importantly, really listened to me. To this day, we still make time to talk to each other. It helped me greatly in real life. Don't get me wrong, I still have social anxiety, but not to the same degree. They did not cure it by any means, but knowing someone was out there who was interested in speaking with me helped tremendously.

Because of my personal experience, I understand that there are times when you just need a friendly ear to listen. Whether it be about books, work, movies, or a hobby that you are into, it doesn't matter. We all crave that connection with at least one other person. Someone who will not judge us or make us feel like we are not worth a simple conversation. This is why I love chatting to other people over text, because I want to let them know that they matter and are deserving of attention. So let's spend some time together, and see if we can wash away some of the loneliness that has a way of creeping in from time to time.