Henrietta.O: Article!

Are we all just lonely now?
This article was culled from Henrietta O's substack.

Now, who would have thought that adulthood would be so lonely? Certainly not I. It seems like we are growing increasingly disconnected from one another. I am not sure if this loneliness is due to this drawn-out winter here in the North that has remained steadfast in not giving us any reprieve, or the fact that adulthood sadly did not meet my childhood expectations. There is something to be said about leaning heavily on expectations and nostalgia for comfort. It certainly doesn’t make it easier when our expectations don’t match our somewhat grim reality. 
When I was a kid, all I ever wanted was to grow up, be fiercely independent and live a life with lots of adventures with my closest companions by my side. Most of that sounds like fantasy to anyone who knows what adult life is truly like. Oh but back then, I thought it possible; perhaps this dream was fuelled by the countless sitcoms I watched, despite my parents’ disapproval and the fact that I grew up in a neighbourhood where everyone knew each other, and neighbours were basically like extended family who needed no invitation to stop by. Despite my disappointment and bitter march towards solitude, I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that there were a few moments here and there with my friends that never failed to put a smile on my face when loneliness reared its ugly head. It’s easy to reminisce about the good old days when life feels a bit dull. Remembering how simple life used to be is both devastating and comforting. 
I remember early spring 2018; I was days from sitting for my undergrad final exams when my friends and I decided to round up as many people as we could for our last trivia night at university. Our mission was simple: “win trivia night before graduation.” Being smug wasn’t part of the plan, but it was a given; after all, we were about to accomplish the impossible, a victory that had eluded us for three years and counting. With eleven people (yes, it was that many) sitting at the table that became the ire of many patrons, including the trivia guy, we somehow managed to piss off everyone at the bar with our valiant battle and eventual victory. 
The victory was sweet, to say the least, and the smugness was cranked to the max, dare I say, off the charts. Our celebrations were quickly undercut by the reward, a $100 Starbucks gift card. That’s right, we had to split $100 worth of Starbucks snacks and drinks amongst ourselves. I don’t remember if we ever claimed our gift card or redeemed it at the only Starbucks on campus. I still have fond memories of that night, as it was the last moment when many of my friends and I were truly unbound and untethered to the weight of adult responsibility 

To be continued....     Culled from Substack

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