According to crossrivertherapy.com, 52% of Americans report feeling lonely. Just think, you might be able to significantly lower that number with a simple conversation.
You should not exclude someone because they are different from you in some way, or you think they are not mentally capable of understanding the conversation you are having. Most of the time, the version of someone’s personality you see on a daily basis is not the true, pure version of that person. A lot of people tend to tamp down their personality for the fear of not being accepted for how they truly are.
Also, people of all ages can be included. Just because they are grown and have jobs, adults have feelings too. Although they may not show it as obviously as a younger person, your words and actions can cut them down or lift them up just as easily as they can a younger member of the population. You may not include them the same way you would include someone closer to your age, but you can still try.
Even a simple invitation to do something with just you or you and your friend group can go a long way. Inclusion can do wonders for someone’s mental health. Next time, you are apprehensive about including someone, try to put yourself in their shoes, and think about how you would feel in their situation if someone included you.
So, do what others won’t and become a safe space for someone. Don’t assume things about them until you have interacted with them at least once. You can brighten someone’s day
with just a simple “Hello! How are you?“ or an invitation for them to sit with you at lunch. Never forget, people of any age get lonely too. Whether they are your same age, younger than
you, or older than you, everyone deserves to be included.
