Sunshine and Olly

by Jonathan Blaustein

Is anyone else lonely?

I am.

It’s hard to admit, because doing so can make us feel vulnerable.

I believe when we figure out our weak spots, and work on them, we improve.

But this one has been confounding me for a while now.

(Certainly since my friend Dave died last year.)

Making new friends isn’t normally hard for me, as an extrovert, but the pandemic seems to have shifted something core.

These days, some people seem content to only socialize online.

I’ve got two examples of people new to my community, with whom I have things in common, (people who in the past would have become friends for sure,) but both seem comfortable only “experiencing” me on the phone, or by liking my Facebook posts.

It’s not sustainable.

Obviously, I’m not naming names, as I don’t blame these two people.

Rather, I’m writing the post because I think this is a bigger issue than people realize.

---

Human beings, (Homo sapiens,) are like dogs, horses, dolphins and monkeys.

We’re social creatures.

A feeling of “connection” is required for health.

And “social” media, with its focus on weak ties, convinces people they’re getting enough “connection juice,” but I beg to differ.

Having lived my social life online, and via festivals, for the last five years or so, I thought it was enough.

Lots of people know who I am.

My brand is cool, smart and fun.

So why do I feel, (these days,) that I’d trade the renown for some good, trustworthy, kind people, who actually care whether I live or die.

(It certainly explains why rappers are obsessed with their Day Ones.)

To be clear, I’ve got an awesome family.

I love my wife, children, (and now dogs,) very much.

They understand and appreciate me.

I’m fun to hang out with, and take an active interest in people.

I’m kind, considerate, generous, and witty.

Sure, I can lose my cool every once in a while, b/c I’m human, but right now, in February 2023, I’m starting to realize something.

It’s not my problem.

It’s America’s.

(That’s what reading the Zeitgeist is all about.)

And if people can’t figure out (collectively) that we need IRL, flesh and blood, human relationships…

We’re fucked.