Dear MEL Topic Readers,
A loneliness epidemic is spreading worldwide. Seoul is spending $327
million to stop it
When do you feel lonely? Dining alone in a restaurant where families,
couples, and friends are chatting and laughing at other tables most likely makes
the solo diner feel lonely. Also, unlocking the door to a dark and empty room reminds
the occupant that there is no one to talk to even at home. However, the time someone
may feel lonelier than ever might be when he or she is on a deathbed
alone. Last year there were over 3,600 lonely deaths in South Korea, and the
number has been increasing. Surprisingly, over 84% of the lonely deaths were
male, and more than half of them were in their 50s and 60s, who still haven’t
reached their senior years yet. Besides the factors now common in other developed
countries like Japan such as rising single-person households and declining
social interactions, South Korea’s competitive achievement-oriented culture
might have made some men in their upper-middle ages feel unneeded or less valuable
in society. Indeed, comparing oneself to others can generally lead to negative
thoughts. While dying alone might be situational, dying with a lonely feeling
can be avoided.
Read the article and learn about how someone feels lonely when they
die.
