Help us continue to bring “the science of a meaningful life” to you and to millions around the globe Considering the importance of positive social connection for our health and well-being this has caused concern among experts like Vivek Murthy about a potential loneliness epidemic.  However, being alone doesn’t necessarily lead to loneliness. Many of us appreciate solitude as a time for personal reflection, creativity, and spiritual enrichment, even as we enjoy our social ties, too. Yet, if we equate solitude with loneliness, or don’t have a positive view of it we may avoid it and lose its potential benefits Now, a new study suggests that feeling awe may help us appreciate solitude more and choose it more often researchers performed a series of experiments looking at how American or Chinese people feeling awe (as opposed to other emotions) viewed solitude American participants saw awe-inspiring photos (e.g. of the Milky Way) or emotionally neutral photos (e.g. Chinese participants imagined times they’d felt awe or happiness in the past; or they watched short nature videos designed to induce awe (e.g. of spectacular scenery) or amusement (e.g. participants reported on how alone and lonely they felt They also expressed their views about solitude: how they felt about being alone how much they’d be willing to do things alone (like eating or watching a movie) and how much they’d rather be alone than spend time with others people who experienced awe tended to report feeling alone but not lonely (in comparison to people feeling other emotions or no particular emotion) And they expressed a more positive view of solitude—even when compared to people feeling happy or amused—including being more drawn to it than to being around others This suggests that awe may play a special role in making solitude more enticing to us people feeling awe expressed higher levels of self-transcendence—moving beyond their personal concerns and embracing a larger perspective—and in turn higher levels of self-transcendence seemed to predict more positive reactions to solitude since laboratory tests and analyses don’t always reflect what happens in the real world A group of Chinese participants were “pinged” five times a day for a week and asked to report on various things people who experienced more self-transcendence didn’t tend to feel lonely (even if alone) and appreciated solitude more “By helping people connect with themselves and the grandness of existence awe can help people view solitude more positively,” says study coauthor Yige Yin of Peking University it may also help prevent loneliness by encouraging people to enjoy their time alone.” These results are encouraging to Yin, especially given that people often think being alone is a bad thing and something to be avoided. Many people find solitude boring, she says—in fact, one study found people would rather give themselves electric shocks than be alone with their thoughts solitude can be a good environment for people to focus inward and consider more profound questions cultivating awe to transcend the self could be a useful tool to help us be more comfortable with solitude—whether chosen freely or imposed from outside “The general public may use awe to change their attitude towards solitude—to appreciate its value Yin and the team found that people in the awe group experienced greater peace of mind and spiritual well-being afterward (and a week later) This suggests short doses of daily awe can support people’s well-being while watching the videos made people feel better in the moment and their immediate views of solitude were positive their overall feelings about solitude didn’t change over the course of the week but she speculates that the experiment was too short to lead to significant changes in attitude In the meantime, her overall findings point to the potential benefits of daily awe. By trying to find ways to feel awe—whether through an awe walk or watching awe-inspiring nature videos for example—we may enjoy our solitude more and get more out of it “Solitude can be interesting and valuable,” she says “When you can just enjoy a peaceful time alone to speak to yourself and connect yourself to the greater world it can be as important as time spent with others It might be worth embracing rather than avoiding.” is Greater Good’s former book review editor and now serves as a staff writer and contributing editor for the magazine She received her doctorate of psychology from the University of San Francisco in 1998 and was a psychologist in private practice before coming to Greater Good Educators are finding ways to help their students experience the mental and physical health benefits of awe Helping our kids find awe in the wonder of the natural world is good for them—and for us as parents researchers were inspired by the Blackfoot story of the Human Spiderweb to create a collective practice for 300 people Parents can model and help children practice admitting what they don't know and owning mistakes The Greater Good Science Center studies the psychology Feb 10, 2025Ducking boundary or closure ropes at a ski resort is extremely dangerous, and Solitude Mountain Resort Utah has had enough.The popular ski resort took to social media to inform their followers about a dangerous situation that unfolded on Saturday a skier ducked a rope into Honeycomb Canyon a popular off-piste section of the resort that was closed due to avalanche danger the skier allegedly triggered an avalanche in the closed zone that "required a response from patrol."Solitude stresses that ducking ropes not only puts the skier in question at risk and presumably others that have occurred this season Solitude is considering changing how it opens lifts and trails:"Rope ducking is causing significant delays in lift and terrain openings Our patrollers can’t open terrain when they are pulled away because of bad guest behavior We are now considering keeping lifts closed until patrol has completed work on that terrain and the adjacent terrain."A skier expressed concerns about this potential policy change in the comments but Solitude doubled down: "They would have a tough time ducking ropes into Honeycomb if Summit but it is a priority to keep our staff and guests safe." Honeycomb Canyon can be found to the far looker's right This is the second time Solitude has shamed guests about ducking ropes this season.Solitude Mountain Ski Patrol Director Doug Catherine warned back in January that skiers caught ducking a rope or entering closed terrain will lose their pass for a minimum of 30 days This past weekend's post expands on those consequences:"Entering closed terrain will result in your pass being pulled for no less than 30 days It is also punishable by a Class B misdemeanor including up to 6 months in jail an a $1,000 fine."Solitude drives the point home with a connection to a tragedy that happened in the backcountry on the same day of the rope-ducking incident: "Yesterday (2/8) an avalanche also occurred in backcountry terrain adjacent to Solitude Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim Ducking ropes into closed areas of Solitude prior to the completion of avalanche mitigation work could result in a similar accident." An example of an avalanche closure sign If you think it's cool to duck a rope The risk/reward of scoring fresh turns is simply not worth it and the reason is always your safety.Stay safe out there BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — A man died Saturday after he appeared to have crashed into a tree while skiing at Solitude Mountain Resort. Unified Police said the skier was found unresponsive around 1:15 p.m. toward the bottom of Middle Slope, a double-black-diamond area. Members of ski patrol attempted lifesaving measures, which were ultimately unsuccessful and the victim was pronounced dead. Officials said the victim was wearing a helmet and other proper protective gear. They also said he appeared to have been skiing alone at the time. The victim was identified as 53-year-old Daniel Negrelli of Canton, Connecticut. Police said his death and the official cause are under investigation. Print Is Netflix a universal language The entertainment giant is counting on it as the company seeks to extend its lead in the global streaming business. On Monday, Netflix showcased its latest slate of international original programs, which are a key part of its strategy to attract and retain subscribers around the world The list includes the much anticipated sequel to the violent Korean-language drama “Squid Game,” Netflix’s most watched show ever; “The Leopard,” an Italian story about a prince in the 1860s; and the third season of the Japanese series “Alice in Borderland.” Another ambitious project: the first-ever TV adaptation of the classic novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” Hollywood Inc. Netflix in the last five years has released more than 10 TV and film adaptations based on popular Japanese manga or anime International markets are an important source of the company’s subscriber and revenue growth Netflix estimates that two-thirds of its audience of 650 million people live outside the U.S “We’re working with local talent to make shows and films that people in specific countries will love,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said at a presentation at Tudum Theater in Hollywood on Monday “And we’re proving that great stories can come from anywhere and be loved by audiences everywhere.” Netflix’s audiences have embraced international programming as viewers have become increasingly accustomed to reading subtitles at home. More than 70% of all viewing on Netflix happens with subtitles or dubbing, Bajaria said. Last year, about 13% of hours viewed in the U.S. involved non-English titles. Bajaria said some people assume that the main goal is to create global hits, but that’s usually not the way at Netflix, which seeks to make shows and films that resonate in their home countries first. The reason many of its shows work is that audiences appreciate the authenticity of local storytelling. “[W]hen you try to make something that appeals to everyone, you just end up making something that appeals to no one,” she said. dubbing accurately and authentically has become crucial to widening the appeal of its local language programs to global audiences The company has a significant presence abroad working with more than 1,000 producers from more than 50 countries Non-English titles that draw the biggest U.S The prime example of the strategy working is “Squid Game,” which captured 265.2 million views in its first 91 days on Netflix The series’ second season comes out on Dec Will viewership for the second season reach the heights of the original? Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s vice president of content for Asia Pacific, was reluctant to speculate but noted that Netflix’s number of subscribers has grown since “Squid Game” came out in 2021 and that the next season is packed with drama. “I have a lot of confidence that our members who watched Season 1 will definitely love Season 2 and those who actually have not been introduced will find Season 2 will also resonate with them as well,” Kim said in an interview. Awards Writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk and star Lee Jung-jae reveal that the main character’s next journey will be less about survival and more about justice Netflix executives say their commitment to telling authentic local stories has helped them gain the trust of creators. Next month, Netflix will release Part 1 of “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” based on the sprawling magical realism novel by Gabriel García Márquez about the rise and fall of a fictional town in Colombia. Francisco Ramos, vice president of Latin American content, said in a presentation video that previously no one had ever tried to adapt the book into a series or film, nor had the García Márquez family approved any adaptations. “But we were able to, thanks to our commitment with the family to film in Colombia, in a series format to honor the original structure of the book, and in Spanish for authenticity,” Ramos said. Television One of Gabriel García Márquez’s most popular magical-realism novels is coming to the screen. Wendy Lee is an entertainment business reporter, covering streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+. She also writes about podcasting services, digital media and talent agencies. Business Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map People aged 21-34 who will spend holiday on their own this year up ninefold compared with 1969 The number of young people spending Christmas Day alone has increased ninefold according to UK research that compared festive attitudes and behaviours in 2024 with 1969 The study by the Policy Institute at King’s College London found that the overall number of people spending Christmas Day alone had more than doubled jumping from 5% to 11% in the 55-year period one in 11 will be spending the holiday on their own this year That number has increased from one in 100 who said the same 55 years ago While the share of people aged 65 and over who said they would spend Christmas Day by themselves has remained the same since 1969 – 15% of over-65s – the number for other demographics has risen said: “Christmas is just a little bit lonelier and less joyous or magical than it was 55 years ago The proportion of people spending the day itself alone has doubled and a lot less likely to think parents should encourage their children to believe in Santa “But this doesn’t mean we’ve given up on Christmas – indeed a large majority of eight in 10 still say they do enjoy it and nine in 10 will spend it with family or friends.” based on two nationally representative surveys of UK adults aged 21 and over in 2024 and 1969 is part of a series of studies updating survey results from decades ago to understand changes in Britain’s core beliefs and ways of living Other data found that 80% of people today say they enjoy Christmas which has dropped slightly from 86% in 1969 A large chunk of Britons also believe that shops push Christmas and festive goods on to consumers far too early in the year Men reported the biggest change in attitudes on Christmas in retail with 81% of males surveyed saying Christmas goods are sold too early – up from 59% in 1969 The religious significance of Christmas has also dwindled in the UK with 60% of people viewing Christmas as a family occasion When asked 55 years ago if Christmas was more about family than religion indicating a decline in the Christian faith in Britain from London is among those spending the holiday alone He said he sees his family throughout the year and they “share better times in the spring and summer” Free daily newsletterOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters “The script for the day will be entirely mine It’ll be salmon and poached eggs for breakfast and whatever the hell I want for dinner,” he said “Why so many of us subject ourselves to the nightmare of Christmas travel the commercialism and the expectations of it all is simply beyond me.” Despite massive societal changes compared with 1969 Duffy said the data also showed that some things had not changed at all “These long-term trends are also useful in reminding us that some things have remained the same John and Yoko staged their bed-in for peace and our current king was invested as the Prince of Wales eight in 10 were complaining that Christmas was too commercialised – exactly the same proportion as today.” This article was amended on 24 December 2024 A graph in an earlier version showed a decrease in the number of people spending Christmas alone in the 55-64 age group from 1969 to 2024; this should have shown an increase and has been corrected ShareSaveCommentLeadershipCareersBody Doubling–The Productivity Hack You Didn’t Know You NeededByWilliam Arruda Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights “My clients experience increased focus and productivity In addition to enhancing your performance and helping you get things done this technique is also a powerful counterbalance to the loneliness and isolation that’s increasing in the modern workplace Virtual and hybrid environments and the vast infusion of technology into work has stripped some of the humanity from it Productivity expert and Managing Director at Marketing Signals Gareth Hoyle says “As the Managing Director of a remote marketing agency I’ve tried more productivity hacks than I can count but body doubling is one I keep coming back to and adds a surprising layer of human connection.” Here’s how body doubling works body doubling is when two (or more) people work side by side It’s not about brainstorming or bouncing ideas around and doing the work while someone else is doing theirs Just having another person in your virtual or physical space provides an accountability anchor that helps keep you on task who has been using the technique to boost her productivity “I recently got into body doubling—basically working alongside someone else on a video call and it’s honestly been such a helpful shift when I’m struggling with a piece of content or getting ideas together for a client creates a sense of accountability that’s helped me stay on task.” Body doubling soothes the sting of solitude Sharing work time with someone else brings a touch of community to the day but some days it can feel a little isolating Hopping on a call with others makes a difference We tend to have a quick catch-up with a coffee occasionally having a chat to bounce ideas off one another and generally just a bit more satisfied with my work overall.” body doubling is not a one-size-fits-all fix These potential obstacles can all be managed with a few smart strategies Is this a quiet work session or one with scheduled breaks to chat Share the purpose behind it — better focus Give team members a chance to ask questions or share their preferences Some people thrive in silence and solitude Productivity isn’t about fitting everyone into the same mold it’s about giving people tools that work for them Create a dedicated space for these sessions Think of it like a digital coworking space This gives structure to the experience and makes it feel intentional People won’t body double if they don’t know how no one feels awkward asking around or uncertain about who’s up for it Share the results to refine the format and encourage more participation without pressuring those who prefer to work solo There are numerous applications for body doubling New hires can feel especially isolated in remote environments Pair them with a body buddy for their first week It builds connection and helps them get into a work rhythm Try a weekly or monthly power hour where the team gathers virtually to tackle individual tasks Start and end with a check-in to celebrate what got done Body doubling doesn’t have to be sitting still Try scheduling shared movement breaks: a walk-and-talk or a stretch session even if you’re not working on a spreadsheet Body doubling is more than a quirky productivity trick It’s a reminder that even when we’re working apart Whether you're a people person who misses office chatter or a remote employee looking to shake up your solo routine this simple strategy might just be your secret weapon You might just double your focus — and your fulfillment video-fueled course to help you grow your self-awareness One in four EU citizens reported feeling lonely most of the time during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic according to Eurofound survey data analysed in a new report from the JRC This is more than double the levels of loneliness reported in a similar survey conducted in 2016 And it is young people most affected by social distancing and quarantining measures The share of 18-25 year olds who reported feeling lonely was four times higher in April-July 2020 than in 2016 The report “Loneliness in the EU: Insights from surveys and online media data” explores how loneliness evolved during the pandemic as compared to previous years It also shows how public interest in the issue has grown The report contains the first ever EU-wide analysis of online media coverage of loneliness showing that reporting on loneliness also doubled during the pandemic Vice-President for Democracy and Demography said: “The coronavirus pandemic has brought problems like loneliness and social isolation to the fore but there was less public awareness of them we can start to better understand and tackle these problems we have an opportunity to reflect on how to build together a more resilient cohesive society and an EU that is closer to its citizens.” added: “Loneliness is a challenge that is increasingly affecting our young people But to address any challenge effectively we first need to understand it Our scientists at the Joint Research Centre are providing valuable insights into loneliness and how people have been impacted by the pandemic This new report gives us a baseline for broader analysis so that loneliness and social isolation can be fully understood and addressed in Europe.” The report also includes a detailed analysis of initiatives to tackle loneliness in 10 EU Member States there is an increased awareness of the phenomenon as well as a variety of initiatives to tackle it Different solutions are being proposed and implemented This includes initiatives such as dedicated telephone numbers The report and its findings are the first step of a broader work in the framework of a collaboration between the European Parliament the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment The project will include a new EU-wide data collection on loneliness and the establishment of a web platform to monitor loneliness over time and across Europe In addition to the overall findings on increased feelings of loneliness and the increased media coverage of the issue in the EU Loneliness and social isolation are harmful to mental and physical health and have significant consequences for social cohesion and community trust They are becoming increasingly recognised as public issues that need to be addressed with effective policy interventions The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically reshaped the lives of Europeans Measures adopted to contain the spread of the virus have prompted public discussions about the unintended side effects of such arrangements The current public debate represents an opportunity to highlight a problem that has often been unacknowledged or treated as a taboo It is in this context that Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica asked the JRC for the latest scientific evidence on loneliness and social isolation in the EU. The publication of the report follows a meeting of the Vice-President with Tetsushi Sakamoto Japan’s first Minister for Loneliness on 20 July where both sides agreed to share knowledge and measures on tackling the problem JRC report - Loneliness in the EU. Insights from surveys and online media data COVID-19 and counter-measures both detrimental to mental health How lonely are Europeans? The separation between viewer and objects in the distance is shortened They are momentarily brought closer together Hear Tame Impala's Innerspeaker on Classic Albums above: Peering into the telescoped treetops and dreamy skies on the album art for Tame Impala's debut album Innerspeaker feels like slipping into a vortex of endless light There’s a brief burst of static on opener 'It Is Not Meant To Be' which quickly leads to a coiling guitar and ruminating bass riff It simulates that jolt of excitement (in a previous generation) when you found the right frequency to your favourite radio station or clear reception to your favourite television channel It was like cracking a code and unlocking a hidden doorway to adventure and discovery Innerspeaker is Kevin Parker's technicolour broadcast of the richness and complexity of his emotional landscapes a place where words are secondary to the evocative nature of sound words themselves are an adjunct to the texture they fail our protagonist outright in his attempts at expressing his young heart's desires 'Why Don’t You Make Up Your Mind?' panning guitars evoke intensely bashful pangs of lust You can’t help but blush listening to it at the risk of being caught eavesdropping on such a tender experience We’re invited to an existential quandary on 'Desire Be intent on propelling him out of his statis and self-doubt contrasted by the drift of his airy and detached voice of an internal tug of war in 'Expectation' and 'Lucidity' feels like a euphoric tumble between oscillating states of clarity and a beautiful daze If there's one song that sums up thematically the core of this album and the operational foundations of Kevin Parker With words like 'there’s a party in my head and no one is invited' it's clear he is very much at home in his own company Yet he understands he is perhaps more a case of society's exception rather than rule 'Solitude is Bliss' video shows a distressed and unstable individual going against the flow of society out of touch with himself in decaying and derelict surroundings The impact of solitude and isolation have been on our minds a lot this yearm yet Innerspeaker reminds us of the fortifying and fulfilling possibilities that await within our inner realms Parker has laid out an intriguing internal roadmap or maybe veer off on our own adventures of self discovery its testament that solitude can indeed be a beautifully rewarding and strangely unifying kind of bliss we explore data on loneliness and social connections and review available evidence on the link between social connections and well-being By: Esteban Ortiz-Ospina This article was first published in February 2020 We made minor changes to the text in March 2024 ContentsResearch shows that social connections are important for our well-being Having support from family and friends is important for our happiness and health and is also instrumental to our ability to share information we explore data on loneliness and social connections across countries and over time and review the available evidence on how and why social connections and loneliness affect our health and emotional welfare Despite the fact that there is a clear link between social connections and well-being more research is needed to understand causal mechanisms oversimplified narratives that compare loneliness with smoking or that claim we are living in a 'loneliness epidemic' are wrong and unhelpful See all interactive charts on loneliness and social connections ↓ Happiness and Life SatisfactionSelf-reported life satisfaction differs widely between people and between countries TrustTrust is an essential part of social connections Trust is crucial for community well-being and effective cooperation Other research and writing on Loneliness and Social Connections on Our World in Data: Dr. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States, recently wrote: “Loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day” This ‘15 cigarettes a day’ figure has been reproduced and reported in the news many times, under headlines such as “Loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes per day”.1 we dig deeper to try to understand what the data and research tell us about the link between social relations and health Psychologists and social neuroscientists often refer to loneliness as painful isolation The emphasis on pain is there to make a clear distinction between solitude – the state of being alone – and subjective loneliness which is the distressing feeling that comes from unmet expectations of the types of interpersonal relationships we wish to have Surveys confirm that people respond differently to questions about subjective loneliness and physical social isolation which suggests people do understand these as two distinct issues In the chart here I've put together estimates on self-reported feelings of loneliness from various sources The fact that we see such high levels of loneliness with substantial divergence across countries explains why this is an important and active research area there are literally hundreds of papers that have used survey data to explore the link between loneliness Below is an overview of what these studies find Download imageThe link between loneliness and physical healthMost papers studying the link between loneliness and health find that both objective solitude (e.g. living alone) and subjective loneliness (e.g. frequent self-reported feelings of loneliness) are correlated with higher morbidity (i.e The relationship between health and loneliness can go both ways: lonely people may see their health deteriorate with time but it may also be the case that people who suffer from poor health end up feeling more lonely later down the line it’s important to go beyond cross-sectional correlations and focus on longitudinal studies – these are studies where researchers track the same individuals over time to see if loneliness predicts illness or mortality in the future after controlling for baseline behaviors and health status In another much-cited review of the evidence, Louise Hawkley and John Cacioppo, two leading experts on this topic, concluded that “perhaps the most striking finding in this literature is the breadth of emotional and cognitive processes and outcomes that seem susceptible to the influence of loneliness”.5 Researchers have found that loneliness correlates with subsequent increases in symptoms related to dementia, depression, and many other issues related to mental health and this holds after controlling for demographic variables There is also research that suggests a link between loneliness and lower happiness, and we discuss this in more detail here Experiments with social animals, like rats, show that induced isolation can lead to a higher risk of death from cancer but experts such as Hawkley and Cacioppo argue that these experiments are important because they tell us something meaningful about a shared biological mechanism In a review of the evidence, Susan Pinker writes: “If our big brains evolved to interact, loneliness would be an early warning system—a built-in alarm that sent a biological signal to members who had somehow become separated from the group”.6 Indeed, there’s evidence of social regulation of gene expression in humans: studies suggest perceived loneliness can switch on/off genes that regulate our immune systems, and it is this that then affects the health of humans, or other animals that evolved with similar defense mechanisms.7 The bulk of evidence from observational studies and biological mechanisms described above implies that loneliness most likely matters for our health and well being But do we really know how much it matters relative to other important risk factors The key point here is that estimates are likely biased to some extent I could not find credible experimental evidence that would allow us to have a precise estimate of the magnitude of the causal effect.9 But the fact that we struggle to pin down the magnitude of the effect doesn't mean we should dismiss the available evidence On the contrary – it would be great if we had evidence from randomized control trials that test positive interventions to reduce loneliness to understand better if the ‘15 cigarettes per day’ comparison from the Surgeon General of the US is roughly correct Having a better understanding of the magnitude of the effect is important not only because loneliness is common but also because it’s complex and unequally experienced by people around the world there are large differences in self-reported loneliness across countries We should understand how important these differences are for the distribution of health and well-being In 1938, a group of Harvard researchers decided to start a research program to track the lives of a group of young men in what eventually became one of the longest and most famous longitudinal studies of its kind. The idea was to track the development of a group of teenage boys through periodic interviews and medical checkups, with the aim of understanding how their health and well-being evolved as they grew up.10 Today, more than 80 years later, it is one of the longest running research programs in social science. It is called the Harvard Study of Adult Development, and it is still running. The program started with 724 boys, and researchers continue to monitor today the health and well-being of those initial participants who are still alive, most in their late 90s.11 This is a unique scientific exercise – most longitudinal studies do not last this long because too many participants drop out researchers move on to other projects (or even die) what have we learned from this unique study He said: “Those who kept warm relationships got to live longer and happier we will take a closer look at the evidence and show more research that finds a consistent link between social connections and happiness As most people can attest from personal experience, striving for happiness is not easy. In fact, the search for happiness can become a source of unhappiness – there are studies that show actively pursuing happiness can end up decreasing it people may struggle to become happier because they target material rather than social goals The World Values Survey (WVS) is a large cross-country research project that collects data from a series of representative national surveys the WVS asked respondents hundreds of questions about their lives including whether they were part of social or religious groups and whether they felt happy with their lives By comparing self-reported happiness among those with and without frequent social interactions we can get an idea of whether there is indeed a raw correlation between happiness and social relations across different societies The next chart shows the comparison: The green points correspond to happiness among those who interact with friends at least once per month, while the blue dots correspond to happiness among those who interact with friends less often.12 This chart shows that in almost all countries, people who often spend time with their friends report being happier than those who spend less time with friends.13 Download imageThe link between social relations and happiness over timeThe chart above gives a cross-sectional perspective – it’s just a snapshot that compares different people at a given point in time What happens if we look at changes in social relations and happiness over time There is a large academic literature in medicine and psychology that shows individuals who report feelings of loneliness are more likely to have health problems later in life (you can read more about this in this article on social relations and health); similarly there are also many studies that show that changes in social relations predict changes in happiness and life satisfaction One of the research papers that draws on data from the famous Harvard Study of Adult Development, for example, looked at the experiences of 82 married participants and their spouses and found that greater self-reported couple attachment predicted lower levels of depression and greater life satisfaction 2.5 years later.14 Other studies with larger population samples have also found a similar cross-temporal link: perceived social isolation predicts subsequent changes in depressive symptoms but not vice versa, and this holds after controlling for demographic variables and stress.15 Searching for happiness is typically an intentional and active pursuit Is it the case that people tend to become happier when they purposely decide to improve their social relations This is a tough empirical question to test; but a recent study found evidence pointing in this direction Using a large representative survey in Germany ideas for how they could improve their life satisfaction the researchers then investigated which types of ideas predicted changes in life satisfaction one year later The researchers found that those who reported socially engaged strategies (e.g., “I plan to spend more time with friends and family”) often reported improvements in life satisfaction one year later. In contrast, those who described other non-social active pursuits (e.g., “I plan to find a better job”) did not report increased life satisfaction.16 we know that social relations predict mental well-being over time; and from a recent study we also know that people who actively decide to improve their social relations often report becoming happier people are happier when they spend more time with friends Does this mean that if we have an exogenous shock to our social relations this will have a permanent negative effect on our happiness We can’t really answer this with the available evidence. More research is needed to really understand the causal mechanisms that drive the link between happiness and social relations.17 It makes sense to consider the possibility that healthy social relationships are a key missing piece for human well-being. Among other things, this would help explain the paradoxical result from studies where actively pursuing happiness apparently decreases it In the US, the share of adults who live alone nearly doubled over the last 50 years. This is not only happening in the US: single-person households have become increasingly common in many countries across the world, from Angola to Japan Historical records show that this ‘rise of living alone’ started in early-industrialized countries over a century ago single-person households were rare a century ago they account for nearly half of all households Surveys and census data from recent decades show that people are more likely to live alone in rich countries and the prevalence of single-person households is unprecedented historically Social connections – including contact with friends and family – are important for our health and emotional well-being as single-person households become more common there will be new challenges to connect and support those living alone particularly in poorer countries where welfare states are weaker Loneliness and solitude are not the same, and the evidence suggests that self-reported loneliness has not been growing in recent decades Historical records of inhabitants across villages and cities in today’s rich countries give us insights into how uncommon it was for people to live alone in the past The share of one-person households remained fairly steady between the early modern period and through the 19th century – typically below 10% The current prevalence of one-person households is unprecedented historically The highest point recorded in this chart corresponds to Stockholm in 2012 where 60% of households consist of one person The chart shows that the trend of rising single-person households extends across all world regions. There are large differences between countries – from more than 40% in northern European countries to 1% in low-income Asian countries (NB. For the US and Canada there are long-run time series from census data that let us directly track the share of people who live alone. This is shown in this other chart, where you can see the same trend.) Living arrangements and prosperityNational income per capita and the share of one-person households are strongly correlated: As the chart here shows people are more likely to live alone in rich countries These correlations are partly due to the fact that people who can afford to rising incomes in many countries are likely part of the reason why people are more likely to live alone today than in the past This suggests cultural and country-specific factors also play an important role other non-cultural country-specific factors are likely to play a role rich countries often have more extensive social support networks so people in these countries find it easier to take risks Living alone is more risky in poorer countries because there’s often less supply of services and infrastructure to support more solitary living arrangements And finally, it’s also likely that some of the causality runs in the opposite direction. It’s not only that incomes, culture, or welfare states enable people to live alone, but also that for many workers, attaining higher incomes in today’s economy often demands changes in living arrangements. Migration from rural to urban areas is the prime example. But it’s also important to remember that living alone is not the same as feeling lonely. There’s evidence that living alone is, by itself, a poor predictor of loneliness. Self-reported loneliness has not been growing in recent decades the countries where people are most likely to say they have support from family and friends are the same countries – in Scandinavia – where a large fraction of the population lives alone Incomes and freedom of choice are not the only drivers of the ‘rise of living alone’; but it would be remiss to ignore they do contribute to this trend the benchmark may come from comparing excess mortality of smoking for the average smoker vs excess mortality of loneliness for average levels of loneliness Penninx, B. W., Van Tilburg, T., Kriegsman, D. M., Deeg, D. J., Boeke, A. J. P., & van Eijk, J. T. M. (1997). Effects of social support and personal coping resources on mortality in older age: The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. American journal of epidemiology Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on psychological science Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of behavioral medicine The village effect: How face-to-face contact can make us healthier and happier Cole, S. W., Hawkley, L. C., Arevalo, J. M., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2011). Transcript origin analysis identifies antigen-presenting cells as primary targets of socially regulated gene expression in leukocytes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Two concrete papers that show this is a real concern are: - Abdellaoui, A., Sanchez-Roige, S., Sealock, J., Treur, J. L., Dennis, J., Fontanillas, P., … & Baselmans, B. (2018). Phenome-wide investigation of health outcomes associated with genetic predisposition to loneliness. bioRxiv -Abdellaoui, A., Chen, H. Y., Willemsen, G., Ehli, E. A., Davies, G. E., Verweij, K. J., … & Cacioppo, J. T. (2019). Associations between loneliness and personality are mostly driven by a genetic association with neuroticism. Journal of personality If you know of relevant studies that do provide such estimates please let me know at esteban@ourworldindata.org The original participants for this study came from two groups: a cohort of 268 men from the Harvard classes of 1939-1944; and a group of 456 caucasian men from underprivileged neighborhoods of Boston and many of the children of the original participants are included in the study today The question on frequency of interaction with friends was asked in the context of time spent at work we took this data and split the sample in two: we classified respondents as ‘often meeting with friends’ if they said they met with friends once a month or more frequently and we classified them as ‘rarely meeting with friends’ if they said they met with friends ‘once a year’ or ‘not at all’ we plotted the share who reported being ‘very happy’ or 'quite happy’ a margin of error that varies with the survey size The difference between the green and blue dots is statistically significant for about half of the countries (i.e. for about half of the countries in this chart the 95% confidence intervals around the blue and green dots would not overlap) Waldinger, R. J., Cohen, S., Schulz, M. S., & Crowell, J. A. (2015). Security of attachment to spouses in late life: Concurrent and prospective links with cognitive and emotional well-being. Clinical Psychological Science The key point to remember is that we are not talking about experimental evidence People who frequently interact with friends or people who say they want to engage more in ‘social strategies to improve their lives’ are likely different Although the researchers do try to control for this it is very hard to measure all the relevant characteristics that might help drive life satisfaction asking people about strategies to improve their lives is difficult Although the qualitative strategy from the paper above is interesting it’s still hard to draw accurate comparisons: it’s possible that ‘non-social’ strategies are more difficult or stressful to pursue; so part of the lower apparent impact that these strategies have on happiness might come from the fact that some people are trying but failing to find a better job Snell, K. D. M. (2017). The rise of living alone and loneliness in history The percentage of single-person households is a proxy for ‘solitary living’ it’s important to emphasize that these two things are not really the same Single-person households include those where a person lives alone in an individual housing unit but they also include people who live independently as lodgers in a separate room within a larger housing unit with other occupants there are some people who live in a ‘single-person household’ Our articles and data visualizations rely on work from many different people and organizations please also cite the underlying data sources Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2020) - “Loneliness and Social Connections” Published online at OurWorldinData.org Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/social-connections-and-loneliness' [Online Resource]BibTeX citation All visualizations, data, and code produced by Our World in Data are completely open access under the Creative Commons BY license provided the source and authors are credited The data produced by third parties and made available by Our World in Data is subject to the license terms from the original third-party authors We will always indicate the original source of the data in our documentation so you should always check the license of any such third-party data before use and redistribution All of our charts can be embedded in any site own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment Middlebury College provides funding as a member of The Conversation US View all partners Over the past few years, experts have been sounding the alarm over how much time Americans spend alone These trends coincided with the surgeon general’s 2023 declaration of a loneliness epidemic, leading to recent claims that the U.S. is living in an “anti-social century.” Loneliness and isolation are indeed social problems that warrant serious attention, especially since chronic states of loneliness are linked with poor outcomes such as depression and a shortened lifespan But there is another side to this story, one that deserves a closer look. For some people, the shift toward aloneness represents a desire for what researchers call “positive solitude,” a state that is associated with well-being So it makes sense to me why people live alone as soon as their financial circumstances allow, and when asked why they prefer to dine solo It’s clear there is a desire, and a market, for solitude right now in American culture. But why does this side of the story often get lost amid the warnings about social isolation I suspect it has to do with a collective anxiety about being alone This anxiety stems in large part from our culture’s deficit view of solitude the desire to be alone is seen as unnatural and unhealthy something to be pitied or feared rather than valued or encouraged In other words, although Americans are indeed spending more time alone than previous generations did, it’s not clear that we are actually getting lonelier. And despite our fears for the eldest members of our society, research shows that older adults are happier in solitude than the loneliness narrative would lead us to believe solitude’s benefits don’t automatically appear whenever we take a break from the social world They arrive when we are truly alone – when we intentionally carve out the time and space to connect with ourselves – not when we are alone on our devices My research has found that solitude’s positive effects on well-being are far less likely to materialize if the majority of our alone time is spent staring at our screens, especially when we’re passively scrolling social media This is where I believe the collective anxiety is well placed, especially the focus on young adults who are increasingly forgoing face-to-face social interaction in favor of a virtual life – and who may face significant distress as a result it’s not the type of nourishing “me time” I suspect many people are longing for But if we’re addicted to being busy, it can be hard to slow down. If we’re used to looking at a screen, it can be scary to look inside. And if we don’t have the skills to validate being alone as a normal and healthy human need then we waste our alone time feeling guilty Americans choosing to spend more time alone is indeed a challenge to the cultural script and the stigmatization of solitude can be difficult to change a small but growing body of research indicates that it is possible to reframe the way we think about solitude For example, viewing solitude as a beneficial experience rather than a lonely one has been shown to help alleviate negative feelings about being alone, even for the participants who were severely lonely. People who perceive their time alone as “full” rather than “empty” are more likely to experience their alone time as meaningful using it for growth-oriented purposes such as self-reflection or spiritual connection Even something as simple as a linguistic shift – replacing “isolation” with “me time” – causes people to view their alone time more positively and likely affects how their friends and family view it as well It is true that if we don’t have a community of close relationships to return to after being alone, solitude can lead to social isolation. But it’s also true that too much social interaction is taxing, and such overload negatively affects the quality of our relationships The country’s recent gravitational pull toward more alone time may partially reflect a desire for more balance in a life that is too busy Just as connection with others is essential for our well-being And masochists who like no-fall bootpacks above the new Summit Express I am an unabashed fan of slow two-person chairlifts my love of lazy lifts has more to do with the fact that fast lifts tend to deteriorate the overall skiing experience but it’s not hard to figure out that putting more people on the mountain at a quicker pace translates to less powder for everyone prioritizing the volume of human bodies (and thus slow lifts offer a comfortable opportunity to just chill and look at the view most lift rides are over so quickly you don’t even have time to drink a beer let alone get to know the person next to you Two years ago, when Solitude replaced its old Summit double chair with a high-speed quad it seemed like yet another sign of skiing's attempt to join the rat race all of us so desperately try to avoid the Summit Chair was the first lift I ever fell in love with which to my pre-teen eyes and heart engendered a sense of wonder and freedom that set the hook for a lifetime of skiing so you were always close to the person next to you No chance the two of you weren’t going to get acquainted by the time you reached the top This lent itself to other pre-teen fantasies about maybe Real Skiers Read POWDER. Subscribe Today. Its new base is much lower on the mountain which eliminates the need to take the Sunrise triple It makes laps into Honeycomb Canyon that much easier and you can even ride it with not just one girl Since Solitude is still one of the most casual and non-competitive resorts in the U.S you’ll be sharing the lift not with freeride bros trying to pump their Instagram feeds but with families who don’t care much for hiking The new Summit Express at Solitude is more than just a people mover you can get to the Summit chair via either the Powderhorn or Apex lifts further changing how people ski the mountain skiing ropeline direct from the top of Powderhorn (a very fun my friends and I called Halley’s Haunt) now drops you right at the base of the new Summit From the top of the new Summit, terrain options remain the same. Fantasy Ridge and Evergreen, if you have the desire and ability to climb no-fall bootpacks, still access steep glades, mellow bowls, and rowdy, technical chutes. During POWDER's Thread the Needle event patrol had closed off these zones for a few days providing days-old powder stashes to a thirsty crew The best part was the one thing that hasn’t changed about Solitude in decades new lift or not: There was hardly anyone else around Turns out that a fast lift in a slow place might just make sense The man died after falling off a 100-foot-cliff a 38-year-old transplant surgeon at Intermountain Healthcare died in an “experts only” skiing accident at Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Thursday according to the Unified Police Department Per Fox13 Gagnon fell off a 100-foot cliff and then tumbled further down into rocky terrain He was wearing a helmet but did not survive Intermountain Healthcare said in a statement that Gagnon “was instrumental in growing the Intermountain Healthcare Transplant Services program and in doing so saved hundreds of lives.” A GoFundMe in memory of Gagnon who leaves behind a wife and three children has raised nearly $50,000 as of Saturday morning Gagnon always said he loved living in Utah and his patients often noted his kindness and compassion,” the statement said The TownLift News Desk specializes in delivering concise Our expertise is in covering local stories that matter most to the Park City community Post A JobView All Add Your Organization Don’t miss a beat in the Park City community—get the daily scoop delivered straight to your inbox Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Sign up for our TownLift Daily Newsletter and get today's top local news stories in your inbox TownLift is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Park City and Summit County Utah with Breaking Local News & Community Updates speculating about their darkest hours at home Philip Baker Hall as Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's "Secret Honor." (Courtesy JustWatch)Ever the hustler Altman fell in love with the Los Angeles stage production and figured out a way to get such an uncommercial picture made by turning it into a project for a cinema class he was teaching at the University of Michigan shooting the movie on campus with his students filling out crew positions (This is presumably the only film about an American president ever photographed entirely in a woman’s dormitory building.) The threadbare production provides just enough room for Hall’s powerhouse performance and Altman’s visual pyrotechnics which splinter the image throughout a bank of security video monitors as the character’s psyche becomes increasingly fragmented The monologue barrels through an intensive crash course in Nixon history with a barrage of racist slurs and profane tirades that echo everything we’ve heard on the tapes plus the added bonus of a cockamamie conspiracy theory that’s more likely the product of a Scotch-soaked mind trying to convince himself that this wasn’t all really his fault Hall brings a Shakespearean grandeur to the character an underdog overwhelmed by his petty resentments with an intense physicality that’s at times exhausting to watch (Altman liked to say that the actor lost at least three pounds every time he performed the play.) I’m always happy to see “Secret Honor” but I’m never unhappy to see it end However cleverly Altman layers the visuals 90 minutes is still a long time to spend locked in a room with a ranting that’s what the past four years have felt like Sean Burns Film CriticSean Burns is a film critic for WBUR Colossal While dense cities carry an air of extraversion on the surface, it doesn’t take much digging beyond this superficial layer to see that sometimes even the most crowded places can also be the most solitary. Keita Morimoto (previously) uncovers this double-edged experience through cinematic depictions of street scenes rendered in acrylic and oil paint Living and working in the world’s most populous city the Tokyo-based artist has a firsthand understanding of what it means to traverse the paradoxical “Meeting and getting to know people in the city and observing how such a vibrant place can still isolate so many has profoundly influenced my work,” says Morimoto “These experiences have pushed me to explore deeper themes of connection and solitude.” Morimoto’s subjects and cityscapes are guided by similar themes of contrast and opposition and illuminated phone screens radiate against the darkness of night and place an emphasis on obscurity What relationship do humans have to these mechanical objects whether they are present within the composition or not As multiple figures congregate on dark street corners and fix their eyes upon these lit devices As the feeling of disconnect rises to the surface Moriomoto’s painterly strokes mimic an almost pixelated effect literally and figuratively highlighting a fractured point of view Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now Join more than 200,000 subscribers and get the best of art and visual culture from Colossal Copyright © 2025 Colossal. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy “There are no dangerous thoughts; thinking itself is dangerous.” We bring Arendt's fearless style of thinking to a wide audience “Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.” Fall Conference 2025“JOY: Loving the World in Dark Times” I want to call my book on political theories Amor Mundi.” far easier to act under conditions of tyranny than it is to think.” “Political questions are far too serious to be left to the politicians.” Bannon targeted “incels,” or involuntarily celibate men because they were easy to manipulate and prone to believing conspiracy theories “You can activate that army,” Bannon told the Bloomberg journalist Joshua Green “They come in through Gamergate or whatever and then get turned onto politics and Trump.”  Courtesy of the artist and Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art For two years, starting in 2012, artist Claire Tabouret woke up each morning and painted herself brushing the lines of her face and gestures of her body in ink on paper she amassed over 700 self-portraits in total “It was a time where I didn’t have a fixed studio I barely had a fixed living space,” she said over a video conference call from Los Angeles Tabouret moved to the city in 2015 and began working out of an airy atelier “I was constantly camping out here and there and I had a really hard time finding my safe space to create and to paint so I think this ritual helped create a bubble around me Though self-portraits have always been an intrinsic part of Tabouret’s practice, lately, they have become her sole focus while sheltering through COVID-19. From November 19th to December 31st, she’ll exhibit a group of them at Perrotin’s Tokyo space in a show titled “Lockdown Self-Portraits”; concurrently a set of five self-portraits made before the pandemic titled “Mirrors and Reflections,” is on display at Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene Tabouret began receiving buzz during the years she was working on her earlier she had also begun creating a body of work based on childhood—paintings that showed brigades of nearly colorless adolescents confronting the viewer with drawn she worked on a series of portraits of young girls paint smeared like makeup across their mouths and brows unsettlingly displaced from their features Claire TabouretMakeup (Red and Blue), 2016John Wolf Art Advisory & BrokerageSold Claire TabouretMakeup (Ribbons), 2016John Wolf Art Advisory & Brokerage “First I paint a portrait of a child—nice and tidy,” she told Flaunt in September 2016 “Then I cover it with makeup as one of a child’s first primitive gestures related to painting Today, her works are held in the permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal, and the Pérez Art Museum Miami her painting Les déguisements (Disguises) (2015) an unsettling group portrait of children in costume sold at Phillips Hong Kong for HK$3.5 million (US$451,600) over four times its high estimate of HK$750,000 sold for more than double its high estimate “I find that for different reasons in my life I [have turned] to self-portraits when I was alone— either chosen solitude “You make due with what you have and you have yourself.” In Self-Portrait (double) (2020) as if one face were an impression from the paint of the other the composition bisected by the yellow wall behind her which is disappearing into the couch,” she said of the latter work receding despite the fact that she is the only figure in each composition—besides her dog Much of Tabouret’s work has involved the dynamic of two or more people the only person the artist contends with is the viewer “I think my work always follows what’s going on—sometimes in a more literal way or sometimes in a more metaphorical way,” she said I’m not thinking about proximity so much.” Tabouret has explored identity—or the loss of it—within groups as well as the tension between people in intimate contact “I am crying because you are not crying,” she repeated the forms of two people locked together grappling one another in slightly different positions I was trying to express the difficulty of a heartbreak and separation,” she said “And the image I had in mind was this impossibility of communication when two people are banging their heads against each other.” 2018Almine RechTabouret began searching the internet for videos and images of animals in combat The opposing force of their bodies reminded her of wrestlers “One is pulling and just one is trying to escape—and that’s [like] a breakup because one wants to leave and one doesn’t want to let go,” she said she has painted figures who command attention and take up space from the alluring yet ominous forms of young aristocratic women in Les Debutantes (Dark Blue) (2015) to the heroic stances of the female subjects who appear in Battleground (2016) and The Circus (2018) 2018Almine RechIn these new self-portraits “It’s way more about doubt and fragility and a desire to disappear,” she said Tabouret points to the influence of 20th-century Swiss writer Robert Walser who suffered a nervous breakdown and withdrew from the world to live in a mental institution Interest in his work was renewed decades later when microtexts he had written on loose scraps of paper at the sanitarium were deciphered and published posthumously Walser didn’t just disappear from the public eye; critics have noticed that sense of disappearance extends to his style of writing as well Sebald has written that Walser’s language “has the tendency to dissolve upon reading so that only a few hours later one can barely remember the ephemeral figures and things of which it spoke.…Everything written in these incomparable books has—as their author might himself have said—a tendency to vanish into thin air.” Tabouret’s paintings, too, have the quality of ephemerality, of retrieving memories from long ago—the colors are slightly off in tone, the lines degrading as you try to bring them to mind. She likens skin to the capricious surface of water—a connection that has stayed with her since she first encountered Monet’s water lilies as a child “There’s something about a human face.…[It is] constantly in motion constantly mysterious—and painting allows me to paint this state of [being] unfixed,” she said Paintings, too, she believes, are never static, and it was her early experiences with Monet, and then Manet Her self-portraits mark the passage of time for the artist contributes to their changeable nature as well “Paintings are not dead objects,” she said “[They] actually evolve—the way you look at it—because you’re going to change.…It can be this dialogue that teaches you things your whole life Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A skier enjoys opening day at Solitude Mountain Resort on Friday When Solitude Mountain Resort managers made the decision to open the ski area a week ahead of schedule — even as warm temperatures had other Utah resorts pushing back their opening dates — they knew people would come. It didn’t matter that it would only be firing up a relatively slow double lift. That they could open only a single green groomer was of little concern “There’s such a big population of just die-hards that will get out and ski on anything,” Solitude spokesperson Travis Holland said “And our goal is always to provide the longest season we can and that means getting open as soon as we can and then stay open as long as we can People are itching to get back on the mountain (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers enjoy opening day at Solitude Mountain Resort on Friday Hundreds of people turned out Friday to celebrate the opening of Utah’s 2023-24 ski season They dug into free doughnuts as they lined up to ride up the Link lift and take a cruise down Easy Street And while they may all be considered diehards the Dean family took that label to another level including 8-year-old Rainier and 6-year-old Theodore left their home in Cottonwood Heights at 3:30 in the morning to make sure they snagged the first chair — which started turning at 10 a.m It was the second straight season they’d claimed those bragging rights at Solitude and they’d learned a thing or two in the previous effort mother Liz Dean and the two boys arrived at 8 a.m to secure their spot and barely beat a few other rabid skiers to it So this year they thought six hours of padding would do the trick again Courtney Dean said no one else showed up until four hours after they arrived “We might have severely overestimated the community stoke,” he said while riding the chairlift up for yet another run at 3 p.m “But there are lots and lots of people here now.” Courtney Dean said he was impressed with how well the snow was holding up even as temperatures reached the 40s and how quickly the lift line moved This year Solitude added some terrain park features to Easy Street Holland said those features will live on that run only during the early season and eventually will be moved to Solitude’s year-old terrain park on Main Street they’ll keep people entertained during their laps and spread out traffic “Anything we can do to spice the day up,” Holland said (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rainier Dean in line to snag first chair for the second year in a row on opening day at Solitude Mountain Resort on Friday Solitude will be open the rest of this weekend and then will reopen next weekend skiers and riders should have a few more options Park City Mountain and Brian Head all expect to be open by Friday with Woodward looking at Saturday Warm temperatures are expected through the weekend and into early next week, but it should still be cold enough for resorts to make snow, according to Evan Thayer, a forecaster for OpenSnow.com “Any potential snow is still a ways away,” Thayer wrote in his weather blog Friday “Our next chance for snow is going to come in the second half of next week.” Stoke is high as Link lift is the first chairlift open in Utah this season. 🥳🎥: @GoPro #GoPro pic.twitter.com/5AtnzBqot2 Thayer said he’s hopeful Utah will get some significant snow around Thanksgiving, but he said it’s still too early to count on that. That won’t deter the diehards, though. As long as the ground is white, they’ll be willing to ski it. Just like the Deans, who Courtney said don’t make a habit of getting up early and camping out for other events. As he said, “It’s kind of just a ski thing.” Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune Stoke is high as Link lift is the first chairlift open in Utah this season. 🥳🎥: @GoPro #GoPro pic.twitter.com/5AtnzBqot2 Nussbaum was a prominent and admired artist prior to the Nazis seizing power in 1933 He subsequently worked in exile and hiding before being murdered in Auschwitz in 1944 is the author of Hannah Arendt (2021) and the editor and translator of What Remains: The Collected Poems of Hannah Arendt (forthcoming She is associate faculty at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research in New York City Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books Contemporary Political Theory and Theory & Event Edited byNigel Warburton or otherwise I am going to die out here.’ Hannah Arendt didn’t usually begin letters to her husband this way but in the spring of 1955 she found herself alone in a ‘wilderness’ After the publication of The Origins of Totalitarianism she was invited to be a visiting lecturer at the University of California She didn’t like the intellectual atmosphere and the cloud of McCarthyism hung over social life She was told there would be 30 students in her undergraduate classes: there were 120 She hated being on stage lecturing every day: ‘I simply can’t be exposed to the public five times a week – in other words I feel as if I have to go around looking for myself.’ The one oasis she found was in a dockworker-turned-philosopher from San Francisco Eric Hoffer – but she wasn’t sure about him either: she told her friend Karl Jaspers that Hoffer was ‘the best thing this country has to offer’; she told her husband Heinrich Blücher that Hoffer was ‘very charming Arendt was no stranger to bouts of loneliness she had a keen sense that she was different Her father died of syphilis when she was seven; she faked all manner of illnesses to avoid going to school as a child so she could stay at home; her first husband left her in Berlin after the burning of the Reichstag; she was stateless for nearly 20 years loneliness is a part of the human condition Writing on loneliness often falls into one of two camps: the overindulgent memoir or the rational medicalisation that treats loneliness as something to be cured Both approaches leave the reader a bit cold while the other tries to do away with it altogether And this is in part because loneliness is so difficult to communicate As soon as we begin to talk about loneliness we transform one of the most deeply felt human experiences into an object of contemplation Language fails to capture loneliness because loneliness is a universal term that applies to a particular experience ‘loneliness’ is relatively new to the English language One of the first uses was in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet Polonius beseeches Ophelia: ‘Read on this book that show of such an exercise may colour your loneliness.’ (He is counselling her to read from a prayer book so no one will be suspicious of her being alone – here the connotation is of not being with others rather than any feeling of wishing that she was.) loneliness was often evoked in sermons to frighten churchgoers from sin – people were asked to imagine themselves in lonely places such as hell or the grave the English naturalist John Ray included ‘loneliness’ in a list of infrequently used words and defined it as a term to describe places and people ‘far from neighbours’ In Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) he described the adjective ‘lonely’ solely in terms of the state of being alone (the ‘lonely fox’) or a deserted place (‘lonely rocks’) – much as Shakespeare used the term in the example from Hamlet above loneliness referred to an action – crossing a threshold or journeying to a place outside a city – and had less to do with feeling Descriptions of loneliness and abandonment were used to rouse the terror of nonexistence within men The first negative word spoken by God about his creation in the Bible comes in Genesis after he made Adam: ‘And the Lord God said “It is not good that man is alone; I shall make him a helpmate opposite him.”’ Totalitarianism found a way to crystallise occasional loneliness into a permanent state of being loneliness lost its connection with religion and began to be associated with secular feelings of alienation The use of the term began to increase sharply after 1800 with the arrival of the Industrial Revolution and continued to climb until the 1990s until it levelled off rising again during the first decades of the 21st century Loneliness took up character and cause in Herman Melville’s ‘Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street’ (1853) and T S Eliot’s poem The Waste Land (1922) It was engrained in the social and political landscape it was both something that could be done and something that was experienced as she was trying to write a book about Karl Marx at the height of McCarthyism she came to think about loneliness in relationship to ideology and terror Arendt thought the experience of loneliness itself had changed under conditions of totalitarianism: Totalitarianism in power found a way to crystallise the occasional experience of loneliness into a permanent state of being totalitarian regimes created the conditions for loneliness and then appealed to people’s loneliness with ideological propaganda she’d published an essay on ‘Ideology and Terror’ (1953) dealing with isolation loneliness and solitude in a Festschrift for Jaspers’s 70th birthday alongside her book The Origins of Totalitarianism became the foundation for her oversubscribed course at Berkeley The class was divided into four parts: the decay of political institutions and the emergence of political parties as interest-group ideologies she framed the course by reflecting on how the relationship between political theory and politics has become doubtful in the modern age general willingness to do away with theory in favour of mere opinions and ideologies ‘think they can dispense with theory altogether which of course only means that they want their own theory Arendt was referring to the way in which ‘ideology’ had been used as a desire to divorce thinking from action – ‘ideology’ comes from the French idéologie and was first used during the French Revolution but didn’t become popularised until the publication of Marx and Friedrich Engels’s The German Ideology (written in 1846) and later Karl Mannheim’s Ideology and Utopia (1929) which she reviewed for Die Gesellschaft in 1930 a revised version of ‘Ideology and Terror’ was added as a new conclusion to the second edition of The Origins of Totalitarianism Origins is a 600-page work divided into three sections on antisemitism to incorporate new information about Hitler and Stalin as it emerged from Europe even if totalitarian regimes disappeared from the world the elements of totalitarianism would remain ‘may well survive the fall of totalitarian regimes in the form of strong temptations which will come up whenever it seems impossible to alleviate political or economic misery in a manner worthy of man.’ When Arendt added ‘Ideology and Terror’ to Origins in 1958 The elements of totalitarianism were numerous but in loneliness she found the essence of totalitarian government Arendt’s answer was: because loneliness radically cuts people off from human connection She defined loneliness as a kind of wilderness where a person feels deserted by all worldliness and human companionship The word she used in her mother tongue for loneliness was Verlassenheit – a state of being abandoned is ‘among the most radical and desperate experiences of man’ because in loneliness we are unable to realise our full capacity for action as human beings we lose the ability to experience anything else; and Totalitarianism destroys man’s ability to think while turning each in his lonely isolation against all others In order to illustrate why loneliness is the essence of totalitarianism and the common ground of terror Arendt distinguished isolation from loneliness is sometimes necessary for creative activity she says requires some degree of isolation One must intentionally turn away from the world to make space for the experience of solitude but Totalitarianism uses isolation to deprive people of human companionship while turning each individual in his lonely isolation against all others where neither experience nor thinking are possible Totalitarian movements use ideology to isolate individuals Isolate means ‘to cause a person to be or remain alone or apart from others’ Arendt spends the first part of ‘Ideology and Terror’ breaking down the ‘recipes of ideologies’ into their basic ingredients to show how this is done: The way we think about the world affects the relationships we have with others and ourselves By injecting a secret meaning into every event and experience ideological movements are forced to change reality in accordance with their claims once they come to power And this means that one can no longer trust the reality of one’s own lived experiences in the world one is taught to distrust oneself and others and to always rely upon the ideology of the movement But in order to make individuals susceptible to ideology you must first ruin their relationship to themselves and others by making them sceptical and cynical so that they can no longer rely upon their own judgment: and destroys a person’s ability to distinguish between fact and fiction – to make judgments one is unable to carry on a conversation with oneself because one’s ability to think is compromised Ideological thinking turns us away from the world of lived experience and destroys the space between men that allows them to relate to one another in meaningful ways And once ideological thinking has taken root experience and reality no longer bear upon thinking experience conforms to ideology in thinking Which is why when Arendt talks about loneliness she is not just talking about the affective experience of loneliness: she is talking about a way of thinking Loneliness arises when thought is divorced from reality when the common world has been replaced by the tyranny of coercive logical demands and when we no longer have new experiences in the world to think from we lose the standards of thought that guide us in thinking about the world And when one submits to the self-compulsion of ideological thinking one surrenders one’s inner freedom to think It is this submission to the force of logical deduction that ‘prepares each individual in his lonely isolation against all others’ for tyranny Free movement in thinking is replaced by the propulsive Arendt asks: ‘Gibt es ein Denken das nicht Tyrannisches ist?’ (Is there a way of thinking that is not tyrannical?) She follows the question with the statement that the point is to resist being swept up in the tide at all Arendt argues that the underlying fear that attracts one to ideology is the fear of self-contradiction This fear of self-contradiction is why thinking itself is dangerous – because thinking has the power to uproot all of our beliefs and opinions about the world Thinking can strip away everything that we hold dear Thinking has the power to make us come undone Amid the chaos and uncertainty of human existence But those who succumb to the siren song of ideological thinking must turn away from the world of lived experience they can’t confront themselves in thinking because they risk undermining the ideological beliefs that have given them a sense of purpose and place Put very simply: people who subscribe to ideology have thoughts but they are incapable of thinking for themselves to make meaning from one’s experiences in the world self-reflective space necessary for thinking Arendt’s argument about loneliness and totalitarianism is not an easy one to swallow because it implies a kind of ordinariness about totalitarian tendencies that appeal to loneliness: if you are not satisfied with reality if you forsake the good and always demand something better if you are unwilling to come face-to-face with the world as it is then you will be susceptible to ideological thought You will be susceptible to organised loneliness When Arendt wrote to her husband: ‘I simply can’t be exposed to the public five times a week – in other words I feel as if I have to go around looking for myself,’ she wasn’t vainly complaining about the limelight The constant exposure to a public audience made it impossible for her to keep company with herself This is one of the paradoxes of loneliness Solitude requires being alone whereas loneliness is felt most sharply in the company of others Just as much as we rely upon the public world of appearances for recognition we need the private realm of solitude to be alone with ourselves and think And this is what Arendt was stripped of when she lost the space to be alone with herself ‘What makes loneliness so unbearable,’ she said ‘is the loss of one’s own self which can be realised in solitude …’ because the world of experience is ever-present in our thinking quoting Cicero: ‘Never is a man more active than when he does nothing never is he less alone than when he is by himself.’ This is what ideological thinking and tyrannical thinking destroy – our ability to think with and for ourselves EmailSavePostShareSYNDICATE THIS ESSAYSaveessay The Norse ravaged much of Europe for centuries. They were also cosmopolitan explorers who followed trade winds into the Far East Like today’s large language models, 16th-century humanists had techniques to automate writing – to the detriment of novelty Saveessay After a murderous kidnapping in Nigeria, I launched a campaign to put a stop to the abductions. Why did no one listen? When we see the Earth as ‘a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam’ what do we learn about human significance? When AI takes over the practice of science we will likely find the results strange and incomprehensible. Should we worry? In Plato’s Symposium, Socrates shared a theory of love from the teachings of a ‘non-Athenian woman’. Who was she really? Over the winter I moved from New York City to Portland The reasons for my move were purely logical would offer me the space and time to do my work I rented a house and happily went out in search of “my people.” I went to parks I knew I needed to connect to people to feel better but I felt as though I physically could not handle any more empty interactions Feeling uncertain, I began to research loneliness and came across several alarming recent studies. Loneliness is not just making us sick, it is killing us. Loneliness is a serious health risk. Studies of elderly people and social isolation concluded that those without adequate social interaction were twice as likely to die prematurely The increased mortality risk is comparable to that from smoking And loneliness is about twice as dangerous as obesity Social isolation impairs immune function and boosts inflammation, which can lead to arthritis, type II diabetes, and heart disease Loneliness has doubled: 40 percent of adults in two recent surveys said they were lonely All of our Internet interactions aren’t helping and may be making loneliness worse. A recent study of Facebook users found that the amount of time you spend on the social network is inversely related to how happy you feel throughout the day In a society that judges you based on how expansive your social networks appear my mom was going through a divorce from my step-father she called a cousin she hadn’t talked to in several years her cousin was derisive: “Don’t you have any friends?” While dealing with my own loneliness in Portland I often found myself thinking “If I were a better person I wouldn’t be lonely.” “Admitting you are lonely is like holding a big L up on your forehead,” says John T who studies how loneliness and social isolation affect people’s health He admitted that on an airplane he once became acutely embarrassed while holding a copy of his own book which had the word Loneliness emblazoned on the front cover He had the impulse to turn the cover inside-out so that people couldn’t see it “For the first time I actually experienced the feeling of being lonely and everyone knowing it,” he says After the public learned of Stephen Fry’s suicide attempt last year, the beloved British actor wrote a blog post about his fight with depression He cited loneliness as the worst part of his affliction I get invitation cards through the post almost every day I shall be in the Royal Box at Wimbledon and I have serious and generous offers from friends asking me to join them in the South of France I have two months to start a book before I go off to Broadway for a run of Twelfth Night there I can read back that last sentence and see that if I’m under treatment and not actually depressed what the fuck right do I have to be lonely But there again I don’t have the right not to have those feelings Feelings are not something to which one does or does not have rights Most of us know what it is like to be lonely in a room full of people which is the same reason even a celebrity can be deeply lonely You could be surrounded by hundreds of adoring fans In terms of human interactions, the number of people we know is not the best measure According to Cacioppo the key is in the quality We just need several on whom we can depend and who depend on us in return As a culture we obsess over strategies to prevent obesity We provide resources to help people quit smoking But I have never had a doctor ask me how much meaningful social interaction I am getting it is not as though there is a prescription for meaningful social interaction Both Denmark and Great Britain are devoting more time and energy to finding solutions and staging interventions for lonely people When we are lonely, we lose impulse control and engage in what scientists call “social evasion.” We become less concerned with interactions and more concerned with self-preservation, as I was when I couldn’t even imagine trying to talk to another human. Evolutionary psychologists speculate that loneliness triggers our basic, fight vs. flight survival mechanisms away from people we do not know if we can trust In one study, Cacioppo measured brain activity during the sleep of lonely and nonlonely people. Those who were lonely were far more prone to micro awakenings which suggest the brain is on alert for threats throughout the night perhaps just as earlier humans would have needed to be when separated from their tribe One of the reasons we avoid discussing loneliness is that fixing it obviously isn’t a simple endeavor Even though the Internet has possibly contributed to our isolation, it might hold a key to fixing it. Cacioppo is excited by online dating statistics showing that couples who found each other online and stayed together shared more of a connection and were less likely to divorce than couples who met offline it would stand to reason friendships could also be found in this way easing those whose instincts tell them to stay on the periphery back into the world with common bonds forged over the Internet Snow and Mountain Lifestyle news and entertainment but doing it in style takes it to another level View this post on InstagramA post shared by Solitude Mountain Resort (@solitudemountain) Solitude remains open for the 2024-25 season and the ski resort isn’t closing its lifts anytime soon Although its closing date is scheduled for May 11th Solitude is trying to stay open as late as possible They’ve earned the title “Longest Season in Utah” for a reason Image/Video Credits: Solitude Mountain Resort Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox. ian@unofficialnetworks.com Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ian Wood became passionate about the ski industry while learning to ski at Mt. Sunapee. In high school, he became a ski patroller at Proctor Ski Area. He travelled out... WASHINGTON (AP) — Widespread loneliness in the U.S. poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily costing the health industry billions of dollars annually surgeon general said Tuesday in declaring the latest public health epidemic Vivek Murthy said in an 81-page report from his office “We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience It’s a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing,” Murthy told The Associated Press in an interview “Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows That’s why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.” READ MORE: Loneliness can affect physical and mental health. An expert shares ways to combat it this holiday season The declaration is intended to raise awareness around loneliness but won’t unlock federal funding or programming devoted to combatting the issue who have become less engaged with worship houses community organizations and even their own family members in recent decades have steadily reported an increase in feelings of loneliness The number of single households has also doubled over the last 60 years But the crisis deeply worsened when COVID-19 spread prompting schools and workplaces to shut their doors and sending millions of Americans to isolate at home away from relatives or friends People culled their friend groups during the coronavirus pandemic and reduced time spent with those friends Americans spent about 20 minutes a day in person with friends in 2020 down from 60 minutes daily nearly two decades earlier The loneliness epidemic is hitting young people The age group reported a 70 percent drop in time spent with friends during the same period Analysis: There’s a mental health crisis among teen girls. Here are some ways to support them Loneliness increases the risk of premature death by nearly 30 percent with the report revealing that those with poor social relationships also had a greater risk of stroke and heart disease Isolation also elevates a person’s likelihood for experiencing depression Murthy did not provide any data that illustrates how many people die directly from loneliness or isolation The surgeon general is calling on workplaces parents and other people to make changes that will boost the country’s connectedness He advises people to join community groups and put down their phones when they’re catching up with friends; employers to think carefully about their remote work policies; and health systems to provide training for doctors to recognize the health risks of loneliness Technology has rapidly exacerbated the loneliness problem with one study cited in the report finding that people who used social media for two hours or more daily were more than twice as likely to report feeling socially isolated than those who were on such apps for less than 30 minutes a day WATCH: A nurse practitioner’s Brief But Spectacular take on combating loneliness Murthy said social media is driving the increase in loneliness in particular His report suggests that technology companies roll out protections for children especially around their social media behavior “There’s really no substitute for in-person interaction,” Murthy said “As we shifted to use technology more and more for our communication we lost out on a lot of that in-person interaction How do we design technology that strengthens our relationships as opposed to weaken them?” This story has been updated to show that the surgeon general said loneliness poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins After three solo cruises onboard Royal Caribbean and MSC ships I took my first solo cruise on Carnival Cruise Line and spent 7-nights onboard Carnival Celebration traveling to Amber Cove Not only was this my first solo cruise with Carnival but it was also my first-ever Carnival cruise While I was worried that I would find the party-like environment overwhelming as a solo cruiser I ended up loving every second of my trip!  During this trip, I got to learn what I loved and hated about cruising with Carnival as well as think about the pros and cons of cruising alone.  Growing up on the East Coast with grandparents who lived in Texas meant that I was shipped off for some quality time with them at least once per year starting when I was about 12 years old.  There's nobody to bicker with or to keep up with I can breeze through TSA Precheck without having to wait on others and relax with a glass of wine before my flight.  my flight from Charlotte to Miami was on time so I did not have to deal with any issues alone I took off at 6:10pm and was on the ground in Florida at 8:00pm.  There are certain precautions that I have to take when I am alone When it comes to the pre-cruise hotel stay there's a hotel that I have become fond of near the Miami airport: Four Points by Sheraton Miami Airport While there are probably better options that are more cost-effective (i.e. I enjoy that it has a free shuttle that I can ride in with other guests and it is a short Lyft ride to the Port of Miami I do not have to worry about being a thirty-minute ride away on embarkation morning meaning that I can sleep in a little bit longer and I have found the staff to be welcoming and friendly.  Since I was a little hungry when I got to the hotel I ended up purchasing instant ramen and unwinding by watching some true crime documentaries on television it was the perfect way to start my week alone (Dinner for one at Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse) this is the biggest negative of taking a cruise by yourself It is human nature to want to have someone to share life experiences with.  as you do not get to take fun group pictures or browse through the shore excursion offerings with others It also would have been nice to have someone else to board with as I was slightly confused when I got to the terminal and was told two different things by different port agents.  I opted to stand to the side and wait until I saw someone else with my boarding time approach the agents as I did not want to walk up again just to get told one of two things that I had already heard.  I ended up finding a place to watch the action with a cocktail in hand I would have been dragged out onto the lido floor to dance especially when you're just itching to talk to debrief all the fun you had that day had a fun waiter who talked to me a little bit and kept me entertained This made me feel a little bit more positive about all the great experiences to come.  Read more: Can You Cruise by Yourself? A Guide to Solo Cruising As lonely as taking a cruise by yourself may be it is a great time to force yourself to meet new people!  On my first-ever solo cruise onboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, I met the nicest family from Denver, Colorado who essentially ended up "adopting" me for the week. I ate dinner with them just about every night and even spent the day at Perfect Day at CocoCay with them.  While sailing alone on Carnival Celebration North Carolina during dinner on the second night but bonded over the shared experience we had of an exceedingly long wait time I had checked in to eat at Cucina del Capitano around 5:50pm and was not seated until closer to 7:00pm.  I ended up eating dinner with them three more times and we went to some shows and even gambled in the casino together.  One of the most unique things about Carnival's Excel Class is BOLT When Mardi Gras launched in 2021 (her debut was delayed due to the pandemic) she was the first cruise ship in the world to feature a roller coaster onboard When Carnival Celebration followed in 2022 this activity is not included in the cost of your cruise fare meaning that it can get pretty expensive for a large family I just wish that I had someone to ride it with me as the ride is designed to fit two people per car which resembles a jet ski more than an actual roller coaster car.  Going back to solo cruising feeling isolating I would have loved to get off and be able to look over at a friend and say "Wasn't that one of the neatest things?!"  My interior stateroom on Carnival Celebration was one of the smallest cruise ship cabins I have ever stayed in My cabin technically could have fit three people but I think I would have had a miserable vacation if my dad and I all squeezed into the tiny 162-square-foot stateroom My only quarrel was how prominently I could feel the split between the two twin beds.  Read more: I stayed in a windowless cabin onboard Carnival Celebration that cost $1,900 — here's what my inside stateroom looked like That seems like a lot for an interior room that is because I had to pay the single supplement fee Since cabins are based on double occupancy this surcharge is applied to single travelers to help the cruise line cover the cost of the would-be second guest Some cruise lines have dedicated solo cabins so you can avoid paying for essentially two people I enjoyed my vacation and would definitely consider sailing on a Carnival Excel Class ship again in the future but it definitely was not worth close to $2,000.  Read more: Going on a cruise alone? Here are the 8 best solo cruise cabins The morning I ate at Emeril's Bistro 1397 for breakfast I did not have to ask anyone whether we should spend the extra money or not.  I could venture over to BlueIguana without having to come up with a meeting point.  If I wanted to lounge on the lido deck I was able to (although I did get text messages from friends at home reminding me to reapply sunscreen!) without worrying about whether others were getting too hot or not.  My time onboard the ship was truly MY time Anyone rarely has the opportunity to plan their day around their personal desires without taking into consideration others around them.  One of the reasons I love cruising alone is that I genuinely feel safe I have cruised alone to the Eastern Caribbean If we're docking in a port that I am super unfamiliar with I am able to book a shore excursion through the cruise line so I do not have to venture off alone.  I did this while in Marseille and was able to visit Aix-en-Provence with a friendly group of passengers from my ship It would have been quite a hassle to get there on my own and I would have been anxious about missing the ship Read more: Will the cruise ship wait for you if you're late at a port? One of my biggest regrets from my solo cruise on Carnival Celebration is that I did not book a single shore excursion Not only are they a great way to meet other travelers but I would have been able to explore more of Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic.  it is easy to strike up conversations with other passengers have to be willing to put yourself out there You will not meet others if you stay in your stateroom all day.  Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising Members of the community are invited to join the CWRU Film Society for a free double feature of Shrek (2001) and Shrek 2 (2004) Saturday Showings will be held in Strosacker Auditorium at 7 p.m The Interfraternity Congress and Panhellenic Council will co-sponsor the showings. Get more information on CampusGroups. Shrek is an anti-social and highly territorial green ogre who loves the solitude of his swamp His life is interrupted after the short-statured and compensatory Lord Farquaad of Duloc unknowingly exiles a vast number of fairy-tale creatures to Shrek’s swamp he decides to visit Farquaad and demand they be moved elsewhere He reluctantly allows the talkative Donkey to tag along Lord Farquaad agrees to vacate the swamp on one condition: Shrek must go on a dangerous quest to retrieve Princess Fiona from a dark castle guarded by a dragon.  Shrek 2 takes place following the events of the first film with Shrek and Donkey meeting Fiona’s parents as her zealous Fairy Godmother who wants Fiona to marry her son Prince Charming plots to destroy Shrek and Fiona’s marriage Shrek and Donkey team up with a swashbuckling cat named Puss in Boots to foil her plans Come to relive your childhood memories; stay to watch your classmates dance to Smash Mouth Interested in participating in a research study Looking for an upcoming event in your department Subscribe to The Daily Items that appear in the Community Postings section are submitted by visitors Posts are reviewed to ensure they are appropriate for our audience but typically are not edited by University Marketing and Communications Case Western Reserve University is committed to academic freedom and promoting diversity of thought The views of those who speak on our campus do not necessarily reflect the views of the university administration or any other segment of the university community As the defense converged, Shane Larkin spun in a full circle, putting everything he had in his diminutive build to zip a pass to Al Horford all alone on the top of the key. Horford did what he and the Celtics did all night and buried the shot It’s a rare sight to see Horford enjoying some solitude and tranquility out there. A lethal three-point shooter, it’s rare these days that he gets an open three, let alone an uncontested one. His optimal pick-and-pop partner Kyrie Irving is on the shelf just the sheer surprise of the moment is enough to make sure they go down But somehow in just 48 hours, Brad Stevens and the Celtics pieced together a game plan on both ends to pull the rug on the Philadelphia 76ers Stevens seemed like he hadn’t slept a minute as his Celtics have pulled off two straight impressive defensive performances and now lead the Sixers series 1-0 after a 117-101 win The Celtics took a risk, betting that they could defend Joel Embiid straight up with a mix of Horford and Aron Baynes Their goal was to stay in single coverage against him and only double if it could be done without leaving the door open behind them as they allowed a defensive rating of 107.6 But they executed their strategy well and walked the line smoothly of limiting Philly’s options to low-value shots “You’re going to have to balance that as the series goes on,” Stevens said when asked about not doubling Embiid. “He could get 31 in isolation or whatever but if you’re doubling him and everything else are you giving up 33 because you’re leaving shooters?  It’s a fine line It’s what makes it really hard to play these guys because they’re so talented and they find the hot guy.” Smart appeared to hurt his surgically repaired thumb on the play although that didn’t stop him in the second half Embiid said he was looking to “attack more.” “I think I’ve shown that I’m pretty skilled so I got a lot of ways and I got – as far as a scorer – I have a lot of ways to score,” Embiid said Embiid went to his whole bag of tricks to find ways to get into the paint and score over Baynes But every other time he would face up to get into the lane or get deep post position on the catch he would toss up a midrange brick or fumble the ball away trying to make a back-to-the-basket move against a sturdy Baynes Embiid said he got all the looks he wanted The Athletic asked Embiid how he felt about those types of midrange shots “I think everybody should know this by now: that’s kind of like my go-to every time the guys and the coaches want me to take it ’65 percent,’ because that’s how well I can shoot it and that’s how well I can make it I got to attack and look for my teammates or ways to score.” Stevens answered the same question by saying it’s the shot they want to force him into as it’s a matter of picking your poison and that is the least lethal dose that proved to be the case as the turnovers and missed mid-rangers piled up Embiid was his typical self in taking the heat There’s a lot of stuff in the game plan that we didn’t execute with Al popping and him being wide open So there’s a lot of adjustments we’ve got to make and just correct them and we’ll be fine.” While the Celtics was happy to force Philly into long twos, they still gave up more plays than they wanted. When Embiid was struggling to score in the post, they would use him in HORNS actions to give dribble handoffs (DHOs) to shooters like Dario Saric Redick and Marco Belinelli cutting at unique angles but they primarily came in DHO actions like this where the shooter scored right off the handoff indicating that those baskets were less a matter of the Sixers disrupting the Celtics defense and more that they execute well on quick actions where they know Boston can’t switch this left pinch post area is the only spot on the floor where the Sixers had success That’s something solvable from the Celtics’ end – even if they can’t change the fact that Embiid’s DHOs block out the sun — so it bodes well for their chances to further sniff out these plays and break them up as the series goes on But while these issues remain for Boston on the defensive end There were too many possessions where Embiid would be icing the pick-and-roll and follow the ball handler into the paint while his man would be all alone waiting for a wide-open three “We just got to honor the call,” said Embiid “My objective is basically not to let anybody get to the rim But when you play against guys like Al Horford Marcus Morris that are able to stretch you out so much you just got to respect it and make adjustment I feel that I’m pretty good defensively and I’m going to do my best to stop them “That’s something we’ve got to correct a lot.” Sixers coach Brett Brown said he is going to dive into the film to try to figure out how to fix those defensive breakdowns but that solving that puzzle may require more sacrifice “I think that’s the challenge with Horford,” Brown said looking at some type of stunt behind it to buy time for Joel to get back and we didn’t really do a great job with him in that area you’re talking about.” where he will draw a double team off the catch when the ball gets entered in Philly was cautious with doubles in the first half but became increasingly aggressive in the second half The 76ers would leave themselves exposed and Boston would make them pay Even though this play failed because Jayson Tatum stepped out of bounds it shows how easily Boston will be able to churn the Sixers defense if they recognize doubles early and start zipping the ball around the horn to find that open door “I just think that whatever the defense gives us that’s what we’re trying to take,” Horford said “I was put in position to make plays tonight and I was able to do that.” “That was one of the poorer defensive games that we’ve played in a while,” Brown said “The three-point shot is what we’re all speaking about and the rotations behind that I think some of it was that there were missed assignments But it sure was a big part of the difference tonight Their ability to shoot and make 17 threes is a big number.” Boston would run a split action on the weak-side elbow with Horford sucking in the defense and Rozier flaring to the top of the key giving him a brief window to shoot over a confused Embiid “They’ve been doubling from the baseline on any switch for awhile now so you just gotta be prepared,” Stevens said “They’re great at turning people over on their doubles The thing that probably gets talked about less and we need to do a better job of communicating They all stay in the play and they’re a good defensive team They’re going to double when they switch and you just have to be able to react to that.” Boston reacted well Monday and held off Philly every time they tried to climb back into the game. With Jaylen Brown down and Boston two days removed from a physically grueling seven-game series this was the one the Sixers needed to steal to get the upper hand in this series they walk away with their coach saying they need to dive into the film to figure out what went so wrong and their best player scoring 31 points and admitting his game was bad Despite spending the past two weeks fighting in the mud the Celtics have somehow come up smelling like roses They’ll have a few days to figure out how Brown and the Sixers will come back at them but Stevens may finally get a moment to rest and a plethora of time to plan his next move Top photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images SearchSheltering at home: Redeeming solitude in an ancient, empowering disciplineLog InSubscribeThe Christian Post To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) A man reading the Bible. | Getty images/stock photoIn the U.S., the share of adults who live alone has nearly doubled over the last 50 years This rise of “living alone” started in early-industrialized countries over a century ago This fact is especially relevant in a coronavirus-compelled day of social distancing and “sheltering at home.” New Yorker writer Robin Wright adds her perspective: “Psychologists note the difference between living alone and loneliness as the new pathogen forces us to socially distance The internet is filled with advice on making the most of these days Phil on television suggesting that couples use this time to deepen their marriages and play games with their children Schools and educational resources are offering unprecedented options for children We can visit more sites around the world through virtual technology than ever One way of redeeming social distancing I have not seen in the media is countercultural in the extreme: let’s embrace the solitude at least for periods of time and seasons during this season And let’s use it as a time to grow closer to our Father than ever before The strategy I have in mind comes from God himself The book of Exodus includes a series of instructions from the Lord to His people as they are journeying toward their Promised Land he concludes a long set of instructions regarding ethical guidelines What would come “above all” that he has revealed to them What would he list as their highest priority Would he remind them of the prohibition against idolatry Would he warn them again regarding murder or adultery Here’s the answer: “Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations” (Exodus 31:13a) Why is keeping a Sabbath so vital to our souls The Lord continues: “that you may know that I Only a holy God can make an unholy people to be holy we can position ourselves to receive what God’s grace intends to give Thus we must keep a Sabbath and walk with Jesus in the Spirit so that he can sanctify us and then work through us to extend His Kingdom in the world Frederick Buechner offers two reasons why connecting with the spiritual is so vital for our souls One is that the spiritual world is real: “We are in constant touch with a world that is as real to us while we are in it and whose ultimate origin and destiny are as unknown and fascinating and less limited by time and space than we commonly suppose.” The principle of Sabbath extends beyond a day of the week without work It calls us to time spent alone with our Lord Let’s focus on one vital dimension of such a communion with our Creator: listening to God In a recent First15 devotional, Craig Denison describes four ways God speaks to us: through creation He notes: “To have conversation with God might sound strange to some to have conversation with God available to us and to not take advantage of it is strange.” The Creator of all longs to have dialogue with you The King of kings and Lord of lords is inviting you to meet with Him that you might have true relationship.” Look to Scripture and the lives of biblical believers as your source of truth and normalcy you can live your life in constant conversation with a God who is both near to you and loves you.” When will you next keep a Sabbath with your Lord This article was originally published at the Denison Forum here Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. 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Renew a Subscription | Change My Address Nearly 10 years to the day later Howard found himself at Solitude again With recorder in hand he went looking for Reddell to see what had changed and what hadn’t beyond the ropes in Big Cottonwood Canyon recovering from a few long and early mornings of control work after a series of gusty one-foot storms joining the conversation was Caleb Merrill a young patroller charged with taking clients into the backcountry through one of several gates at Solitude Solitude snow-safety director Ian Reddell drops in and backtracks 10 years that was the first year we had the program BCM: And it was unique at the time because here was this out-of-bounds backcountry program that was operated by the ski patrol Reddell: People seem to be a lot more aware of the distinction between the backcountry and the ski resort The equipment we had 10 years ago has changed from what we provide today: Ten years ago we had Alpine Trekkers Today we have a compete package that we provide for our clients Most of them do not have this kind of equipment so it’s really nice to provide them with the specifics for getting around the backcountry a little bit easier It really has changed how people get around let’s talk about the backcountry in general—the general users in the Canyons here avalanche fatalities and scenarios playing out Is that a result of people just not knowing what’s going on Reddell: The percentages haven’t changed but the volume of users has increased significantly and that comes back to today’s modern gear Accidents are always going to happen in the backcountry I think we’re really fortunate in the Wasatch with the people that use our gates You hardly ever see the solo person heading out People are going out with partners or in small groups and they all have…they all appear to have all the appropriate equipment I think there is a pretty high standard for the backcountry users as a whole here There is a lot of depth and a lot of experience and very well educated people that seem like they do educate the newer group coming through that you need to have certain skills in order to be out there That’s certainly something we impress upon folks when they come through is a do you know where your going People have the option to make decisions on their own but we can certainly encourage them to a have the right equipment and be educated so if we see something that doesn’t look right we’ll talk to people the Utah Avalanche Center has an excellent web page here and they are very public and very easy to get information you need We also have beacon checkers now at the top of our summit lift Merrill: This is my seventh year and I’ve been managing the Backtracks program for about four or five years BCM: How many tours have you run this year Merrill: We have run eight or 10 tours this year That’s about average for this time of year we have 200 user days [permitted by the U.S so if you have four clients that’s four user days for one tour Reddell: If that’s all that we had and we were running those numbers upper management sees this as something that’s a really unique tour something to offer their guests that are here in Solitude versus the normal ski day and they feel like it’s got value for the guests that are coming through and staying here and as well as for the patrol It’s certainly very enjoyable for the patrollers out on tour and it keeps us always thinking and staying really busy going out into the backcountry and digging pits out there and following the conditions as they are happening beyond our ski area boundaries BCM: Has it helped you become a better patroller I think in terms of forecasting: A lot of times were thinking about skier-compacted in-area stuff within the avalanche mitigation side of things So it’s giving me more skills to be able to forecast for a little bit more of a natural snowpack in the backcountry Solitude patroller and Backtracks guide Caleb Merrill Reddell: It used to be people that were just in town from either out of state or out of the country or staying in the village looking for a different activity Especially quite a number of European folks more used to the whole guided scenario situation today it seems like we’re impacting more people that are local that want to check it out in a safer more responsible manner by hiring a guide to take them out BCM: So the whole guide/client culture that Reddell: I think that there is other information out there that people are seriously considering before going into the backcountry This is something that we shouldn’t do lightly so how do we get more educated?” Whether it’s through magazines or the Internet or on smart phones more people are recognizing that there is a certain way to proceed BCM: So it seems the program’s changed a lot over a decade… It’s become more efficient with time just like the equipment has improved and we have terrain atlases now with photographs Before it was a lot of local knowledge: talk about what runs we’re gonna take people on but now we’ve gotten some nice photographs of the backcountry with our terrain atlas that our patrol can a check out… Merrill: Another big thing we try to do day to day with patrol is backcountry terrain familiarization with some of the newer guys and get them out there on some slower days and show them where we operate Reddell: That means take ’em in the backcountry and go skiing We just really put it together so it’s a positive program Patrollers getting into it are enjoying it It’s been a real positive morale program that we have for the guys On that day off they go do something different and can’t believe they’re getting paid making some fresh powder turns all day For more information about Solitude’s Backtracks visit: solitudebacktracks.com Editor’s Note: Check out the original story on the Solitude Backtracks program from the November 2003 issue of Backcountry, republished here We’re heading to Solitude in a few weeks and would love to explore the back country This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. DOUG STOUP: THE ICEMANFrom playing NCAA soccer to a successful modeling and acting career to being the top polar explorer of his time, Doug Stoup is an enigma. Host Adam Howard recently journeyed to Antarctica with Stoup and their conversation ranges from Doug’s personal training of A-list Hollywood actors to near death experiences; adventures with Doug Coombs; and taking novice skiers to the South Pole. Listen Now » resorts with a little about each individual policy—where and when skinning is allowed whether or not it’s free during operating hours and the link directly to the resort’s guidelines View our resort skinning policies guide » Though we send brand invites for our annual Gear Test Week in February and have finalized submissions weeks … [Read More...] (Alpha)The usually thrilling stage performer is more subdued in this curiously titled album with piano and orchestral versions of Strauss’s Four Last Songs and as if in explanation the cover design includes a meaningless equation – “4 + 4 = ∞” the Four Last Songs conjure up ideas of solitude In fact her disc contains two recordings of Strauss’s final work; there’s the usual orchestral version with Mikko Franck conducting the French radio orchestra and then the songs with piano accompaniments (none of them Strauss’s own arrangements) Grigorian’s rationale for doubling up is that each version of the cycle requires “different colours – even if they are the same piece” The album artwork for Asmik Grigorian’s Strauss: Four Last Songs Photograph: Publicity imageBut in fact it’s the lack of precise vocal colours and attention to verbal weight and meaning that make Grigorian’s performance of this final flowering of the German Lied tradition less than compelling By all accounts she is a thrilling stage performer there’s little opportunity for her to display those dramatic gifts she does not help matters with some particularly slow tempi is almost two minutes longer than it is with orchestra Occasional soaring phrases are a reminder of what Grigorian can do so compellingly but in a work in which the competition on disc has been fierce for more than 70 years from Lisa Della Casa to Rachel Willis Sorensen This article includes content hosted on embed.music.apple.com We ask for your permission before anything is loaded as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies Stream it on Apple Music (above) and on Spotify I do not know Attorney General Dave Yost. I know he has worked for the Delaware County and the State of Ohio and paid into a public retirement system through his wages as a public employee More:Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost retires briefly to draw pension He owns his retirement and if eligible to retire can choose to start drawing his pension The taxpayers of Ohio are not giving him his salary Letters: Dave Yost's double dip an outrage. Does he have any shame? He is the chief attorney for the state of Ohio and has around 1,500 state employees. No one is giving him anything We now know that “mental” illness — including mood disorders — is actually a metabolic brain dysfunction Opinion:'You're not alone.' Support for mental health struggles a call or text away. Labeling someone as “mentally ill” often results in dismissing them as character-flawed especially not a person suffering from a brain disorder We give these to people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Our view: 'Warm, welcoming' $59 million crisis center will be game changer for Columbus medical science has not been stellar at treating any disorder mentioned here Let’s improve both our labeling and our treatments before another young woman self-medicates with drugs and alcohol It’s time for a change and a well-rested you Anyone can build good sleep habits with a little work Instead of focusing on what you shouldn’t do The hour before bedtime is your chance to relax and wind down The possibilities beyond a screen are endless — take a bath brush and floss your teeth — the list is unending Try to get up and go the bed around the same time every day Aim for at least seven to eight hours of sleep But if you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes and do something relaxing until feeling sleepy It can take a few weeks to develop a new habit prayers and then more shootingA newspaper headline seen almost every week these days: “A male shooter armed with a high-capacity semi-automatic weapon designed for military use USA in a school/store/church/workplace/celebration site." Our view: Everyone has a gun.' State stymying Columbus' fight to protect people from guns multi-tasking while reaching into the pockets of NRA lobbyists knowing that Democrats would soon offer sensible gun safety legislation supported by up to 80% of voters I read Danae King's Jan. 25 "Reconnecting tribes with their ancestors," and was deeply saddened and infuriated at the same time   Why is it that our society marches in the streets and burns buildings in protest of racial and social injustice and we continue to ignore and dismiss the unfairness and injustices in how we have treated the native people of this land that we stole from them by force Where is the outrage that over 1,110,000 indigenous human beings still live on reservations that aren't fit for humans Our view: 'Our view: 'Everyone has a gun.' State stymying Columbus' fight to protect people from guns Why is returning remains to their ancestors even a question for debate Show respect for the dead and do whatever it takes to get their remains to their ancestors Since the Indian Removal Act of May 28, 1830 the government was given legitimate approval to take their land away and give them the worst piece of it and call it home That act was the beginning of "legal injustice" to Native Americans it is still an injustice to the native people Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality Robert Griffey tries to make a false equivalency with Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar by citing many democrats he does not like, in his Jan. 25 letter "Greene, Gosar deserve respect." No Democrat every invented stories about Jewish space lasers or screamed at a sitting president delivering the state of the union speech You can put Boebert in that group with Greene and Gosar Why is Matt Goetz still in Congress and not in prison Republicans were in support of his ouster as they put the country before their party No democrat every condoned storming the U.S I continue to be amazed that right-leaning people try to say “both sides do it," when in reality Though few of us were unaffected by the impacts it seems some demographics may have experienced higher levels of loneliness due to social isolation than others According to our recent survey of nearly 1,000 people most adults are more lonely now than they were prior to the coronavirus pandemic People between the ages of 66 and 75 most frequently said they are more lonely now than they were previously younger people (under 55) were more likely to rate their loneliness on a higher scale Those aged 76 to 85 were the least likely to feel more lonely now than before the pandemic People across all age groups said they felt isolated because they couldn’t see their friends and family or meet new people our analysis suggests that different age groups emphasized various reasons for their loneliness 1 in 4 people older than 65 experienced social isolation putting them at greater risk of loneliness The exact number of seniors who feel lonely is difficult to pinpoint but one study surveyed adults over 60 and found 43% of respondents felt lonely These feelings of loneliness were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic A University of Michigan poll found 56% of adults 50 to 80 reported feelings of isolation in June 2020 Though the survey included respondents below the senior age range it demonstrated a stark contrast to reported feelings of loneliness in 2018 when 27% of respondents reported feelings of isolation Loneliness can affect anyone and is often a response to a range of personal events and factors Sudden changes (including loss of a spouse or loved one) lack of transportation and separation from friends and family when baby boomers were of childbearing age suggesting boomers were having fewer children than their parents This trend will likely continue with future generations Childlessness doesn’t necessarily mean seniors are at a higher risk of loneliness as research is still limited in this field elderly individuals who don’t have kids find other support systems but children typically provide more long-term and financial support to parents While nearly one-third of individuals over 65 live alone researchers emphasize the difference between physical isolation and feelings of loneliness A 2012 study from UCSF suggested that living alone is not a prerequisite to loneliness 43% of surveyed adults 60 and over reported feelings of loneliness Portacolone’s research concluded that neighborhoods should be made safer and more accessible for older residents social workers and affordable transportation to make social participation more accessible for seniors in these neighborhoods a growing percentage of seniors say they value walkability in their neighborhoods A study from A Place for Mom found 53% of those in apartments 38% of those in independent living situations and 26% of assisted living residents prefer walkable communities people over 65 make an average of 3.4 trips per day there are over 45 million licensed drivers over 65 — but as seniors are more likely to give up driving as they get older and deal with chronic illness and eyesight loss Over 3.5 million adults over 85 have a driver’s license which forms a percentage significantly lower than for the general senior population A study and literature review from the National Center for Mobility Management and the University of Minnesota found public transportation has a role in responding to loneliness and social isolation The research also noted that accessibility affordability and flexibility of service impact how older adults use public transit community transportation programs can offer curbside pickup and drop-off to seniors in need Accessible transportation not only facilitates getting to medical appointments and the grocery store but also offers rides to activities seniors may not otherwise be able to attend The sheer scale of the pandemic and its impact on elder Americans has left seniors significantly affected by personal loss of friends and family and more vulnerable to loneliness The loss of a hobby can also prompt loneliness Enjoyable tasks like knitting may become more difficult with the onset of arthritis and even reading is more difficult as eyesight becomes less sharp the hobbies that previously helped prevent loneliness may no longer be accessible Some seniors experimented with new digital technology to stay in touch The digital platform Senior Planet created Zoom classes and social events for people over 65 Classes like meditation and Tai Chi even saw more digital participants than they had in person prior to the pandemic many seniors aren’t fully engaged with digital technology About 27% of people over 65 aren’t online at all and certain tech trends aren’t accessible to all seniors Small phone screens can be hard to read even with customized settings and tightening skin and muscle strains can make touch screens difficult to navigate Pew Research surveys found 61% of adults over 65 own a smartphone while an additional 29% own a mobile phone that’s not a smartphone A 2019 study found that seniors who used video chat platforms like Skype had lower risks of developing depression than those who communicated via social media While some people assume senior resistance to technology is caused by a lack of knowledge about how to use certain platforms it might also have to do with new tech being made without the older population in mind The health effects of loneliness are nearly equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day Loneliness has even been estimated to shorten a person’s life span by as much as 15 years Unlike mental health disorders such as depression it still can promote negative cognitive and physical health effects Chronic loneliness can affect how people trust others — and trying to engage socially can lead to feelings of burnout that make loneliness cyclical Loneliness may also increase the risks of serious health conditions such as dementia (by 50%) mental health disorders (by 26%) and premature mortality (by 26%) according to the Health Resources and Services Administration The mental health effects of loneliness may include sleep problems University of California San Francisco’s research also found that lonely seniors were 59% more likely to find daily tasks such as climbing stairs or walking more difficult Urban planners and architects are considering how to build communities and neighborhoods that meet the needs of an aging population and promote connections across generations architect Matthias Hollwich has pioneered “New Aging” architecture in hopes of creating communities with walkable access to grocery stores He also imagines the future of senior living to be more connected with the communities they’re in especially for residents without nearby families “What we can do is come up with a new idea of family and design spaces that allow for neighbors to have the same kind of emotional responses as family members,” Hollwich told Curbed “Half of nursing home residents are there because of social deficits and the loss of their social net not because of health issues; we need to find ways to help them connect." Loneliness can be hard to treat among seniors because it isn’t often talked about But if the underlying cause is found and addressed Platforms like Zoom have shown diversity in use over the past year As vaccination rates rise and in-person events become more common there may still be a place for webcam-based events and workshops that let seniors engage socially while avoiding obstacles that make outside socialization and transportation difficult For immediate mental health or substance abuse services, contact the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) national hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The pandemic has highlighted the crisis of loneliness across generations, but for seniors, who were especially limited in terms of social interaction, 2020 allowed for a rethinking of how they communicate with each other and cross-generationally. The lessons of the pandemic could help leaders in senior living better address loneliness among people over 65. Back to ConsumerAffairsJournal of Consumer Research ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment Company NMLS Consumer Access #2110672 MORTGAGE BROKER ONLY NOT A MORTGAGE LENDER OR MORTGAGE CORRESPONDENT LENDER Home Warranty disclosure for New Jersey Residents: The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer LLC does not take loan or mortgage applications or make credit decisions we display rates from lenders that are licensed or otherwise authorized to work in Vermont We forward your information to a lender you wish to contact so that they may contact you directly The contents of this site may not be republished rewritten or recirculated without written permission (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Ski buses stop at Solitude Mountain Resort on Wednesday during regular intervals to load and unload skiers and snowboarders Representatives from Brighton and Solitude Resort recently spoke about the steps each organization is taking to reduce vehicle congestion in Big Cottonwood Canyon and enhance the arrival experience for the new winter season Getting to the top of the mountains in Big Cottonwood Canyon should take a lot less time this winter Not only did both Brighton Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort institute parking reservations which they hope will break up the chain of cars winding up the canyon every weekend and powder day a high-speed four-pack that shoots straight up the front of the mountain which will become the fastest lift in Utah The Crest6 opened Friday and the Eagle Exptress is expected to be ready to roll by late December Plenty of other goodies and upgrades await Utah skiers and snowboarders this winter The improvements range from new day lodges to additional terrain and expanded offerings for those family members and friends who don’t want to go downhill Below is a roundup of what each of Utah’s 15 resorts is offering for the 2023-24 season Parking: Reservations required Friday-Sunday and holidays ($25) and for early mornings Monday-Thursday ($15) from Dec Lessons: Group and private available for ages 4+ Passes: Ikon Base Plus (5 days combined with Snowbird); Mountain Collective (2 days); Yeti (1 day) Notable: Installing the final five Wyssen towers on Mount Baldy the resort will cease using artillery for avalanche mitigation in that area Will also replace snowmaking pipes in the Wildcat base area Website: alta.com Lessons: Group for ages 4+; private for all ages Multi-resort passes: Indy Pass (2 days); Yeti (1 day) Is in the midst of constructing a new Marge’s Cabin a 25,000-square-foot facility that will include a new rental shop Website: skithebeav.com Notable: Opening gladed terrain for all abilities under the Wildflower lift and added extra glading to the Shotgun trail off the Giant Steps Express Expanded snowmaking coverage on the Lower Aught trail should allow the resort to open more terrain early in the season it is offering its “On-Snow Experience” free to guests step-by-step clinics is intended to prepare guests for their time on the snow Website: brianhead.com Parking: Paid reservations ($20) required daily 7 a.m.-1 p.m; 3+ carpool/Brighton passholders free Multi-resort passes: Ikon Base Pass (5 days); Yeti (1 day) Notable: Upgraded the Crest chairlift to the Crest6 high-speed six-pack Built the mid-mountain Sidewinder Grill in the Snake Creek area Bought a Piston Bully diesel-electric hybrid snowcat and revamped its terrain park Website: brightonresort.com Notable: Updated tubing and snowmaking infrastructure Free wifi can be accessed in the Grand Lodge Website: skicpr.com Multi-resort passes: Ikon (7 days); Yeti (1 day) Notable: Investing $12.2 million in resort improvements and capital maintenance for 2023-24 That includes renovating the second level of the Royal Street Cafe into a 21+ bar called The Royal and upgrading the interior of Silver Lake Lodge Deer Valley will expand into the former Mayflower Resort property That will eventually give it an extra 3,700 acres of skiable terrain Website: deervalley.com Multi-resort passes: Indy (2 days); Yeti (1 day) Notable: Invested over $200,000 in updates to the Skyline and Monarch lifts Saw improvements to State Route 153 and Upper Meadows Drive Will add four new mountain bike trails next summer Entire resort can be rented out on weekdays via its As You Wish program for a base price of $15,000 for up to 200 people Website: eaglepointresort.com/covid-19-policies Notable: Cutting two new trails into the Nordic Express terrain and expanded parking by 200 spots Website: nordicvalley.ski Walk-up tickets available: Yes but ticket sales may be capped Parking: Paid reservations ($26.65; $45 for garage) required daily at Mountain Village from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m; 4+ carpool free Free daily parking at The Canyons in the Cabriolet lot and at Park City High on weekends and holidays Multi-resort passes: Epic (daily); Yeti (1 day) which allows pass and ticket holders hands-free access to lifts via their phones and reduces plastic waste Upgraded and replaced cabins of Red Pine Gondola Website: parkcitymountain.com Multi-resort passes: Indy (2 days; Saturday/Sunday blackouts); Yeti (1 day) a 500-acre area with some of the most expert terrain on the mountain for guided snowcat-accessed backcountry skiing Replaced the Tiger Tow with a covered Sunkid conveyor lift as the first of many renovations coming to the Sundown Lodge area Added a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trail near the Village lift with an on-trail warming hut serving hot chocolate rentals and reservations for those activities snowmobiling and moonbiking will be handled in the new Launch Pad Yurt Free for kids 6 and under and adults 75 and older Website: powdermountain.com Parking: Free; Lot A in Earl’s reserved for carpools of 3+ plus prize incentives for carpooling Lessons: Daily and group sessions for ages 3+; private for all ages; two Women on Wednesdays sessions Multi-resort passes: Ikon Base Plus (5 days); Mountain Collective ( 2 days); Yeti (1 day) Notable: The new six-chair DeMoisy Express will add a wind-protected avenue to the Strawberry side of the resort cobblestone patio with additional dining options Also added 124 parking stalls to the Canyon Rim lot Website: snowbasin.com but reservations are available for $20-$50/day; discounts/preferred space for carpools of 4+ group and private for ages 5+; private for ages 3-4 Multi-resort passes: Ikon Base Plus (5 days combined with Alta); Mountain Collective (2 days); Yeti (1 day) Notable: New Kids Freeloader Pass adds a free pass for one person 18 or under to each adult Has installed the Mountain Center near the tram entrance on the Snowbird Plaza Deck It is a one-stop shop for lift tickets and guest reservations for dinner fixed-grip Wilbere lift to a high-speed quad in spring 2024 Fast Tracks pass/ticket add-on allows access to express lanes on six lifts (tram is excluded) Website: snowbird.com Skiable acres/vertical drop: 1,200/2,494 feet Parking: Pay parking daily ($10-$35; 4+ carpool free) until 1 p.m.; reservations required Friday-Sunday Notable: Eagle Express being upgraded to a six-pack expected to open by mid-December Added three Wyssen tower remote avalanche control systems across Fantasy Ridge which should allow ski patrol to open Honeycomb Canyon sooner Website: solitudemountain.com Day-of weekend ticket price: $149; S-Card allows for $99/day weekends throughout season Parking: Free Monday to Thursday except for Lot B ($25 all day or $5/hour); paid in all lots on weekends ($10-$45) but free with 4+ carpool including a road realignment to eliminate skier road crossings and additional parking plus a new beginner run from Jake’s lift to the upper parking lots Lodging guests will be offered relaxation pools for soothing sore legs post-powder day Website: sundanceresort.com Notable: WPR is a private ski community and year-round recreation and residential area in Morgan County It added a third high-speed quad bubble lift for the 2023-24 season Website: wasatchpeaksranch.com Notable: Added a Pisten Bully Park Pro snowcat upgraded the High-Performance Terrain Zone added lighting to the tubing park and resurfaced the parking lot Website: woodwardparkcity.com Minneapolis indie-rockers Night Moves have announced 'Double Life' their long-awaited fourth album and first full-length release in six years the new record finds the band more emotionally direct and sonically expansive than ever before Night Moves have shared the album’s lead single 'Hold On To Tonight' a hazy soul-inflected track that captures the disorienting clarity that can come with solitude and loss the track paints a vivid portrait of grief and memory set against shimmering keys and a kaleidoscopic backdrop It’s a poignant reflection on what lingers when everything else starts to fade The song arrives alongside a new video directed by longtime collaborator Shawn Brackbill offering a dreamy visual extension of the song’s emotional pull Watch the video for 'Hold On To Tonight' in the player and see the album's full tracklisting below Coming out of a once-in-a-generation global pandemic Americans appear more attuned than ever to the importance of friendship despite renewed interest in the topic of friendship in popular culture and the news media signs suggest that the role of friends in American social life is experiencing a pronounced decline The May 2021 American Perspectives Survey finds that Americans report having fewer close friendships than they once did and relying less on their friends for personal support.  perhaps reflecting its central place in the hierarchy of American social life Americans are now more likely to make friends at work than any other way—including at school The survey paints a more complex and perhaps more fluid picture of American friendships Roughly half of Americans report having lost touch with at least one friend during the pandemic nearly as many Americans report having made a new friend over this same period Many Americans report having activity friendships or situational friends—people they see at certain times or places—and most Americans have a best friend Most Americans report having faced significant personal challenges over the past 12 months More than one in five (22 percent) Americans say the past 12 months have been much more difficult for them than usual Nearly half (46 percent) say it was somewhat more difficult About only one in three (32 percent) Americans say the past 12 months were not especially difficult for them—at least no more than usual.  Women report having had a more challenging time than men did More than one in four (27 percent) women say the past 12 months have been much more difficult than usual report having a significantly easier time than other Americans did Only 14 percent of middle-aged men report that the past 12 months have been much more difficult than a typical year has while 43 percent say it was not any different than usual The financial devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic has been well-documented but less widely reported is the emotional toll many Americans faced as a result of quarantine requirements and self-imposed social isolation Nearly half (47 percent) of Americans report having lost touch with at least a few friends over the past 12 months Nearly one in 10 (9 percent) Americans report having lost touch with most of their friends Young women appear to have been more affected than most were Nearly six in 10 (59 percent) report having lost touch with at least a few friends and 16 percent say they are no longer in regular contact with most of their friends Despite prolonged periods of social isolation and quarantine that characterized much of American life over the past year nearly half (46 percent) of Americans report having made a new friend within the past 12 months Nearly one-third (30 percent) of the public say they have made a new friend in the past one to four years 22 percent of Americans say it has been at least five years since they last made a new friend There are stark and predictable generational divisions in how frequently Americans are developing new friendships A majority (56 percent) of young adults—including roughly similar numbers of young men (54 percent) and young women (58 percent)—say they have made a new friend in the past 12 months Seniors are considerably less likely to have made a new friend during that period with only 41 percent reporting they had done so Nearly one-third (31 percent) of seniors say it has been at least five years since they developed a new friendship Of the many ways Americans make friends and the many places friendships develop A majority (54 percent) of Americans with close friends say they met a close friend at their or their spouse’s workplace Less than half (47 percent) report making a close friend at school—either one they currently attend or one they previously attended Forty percent of Americans say they made a close friend through their existing network of friends About one in three (35 percent) Americans have made a close friend in their neighborhood and about one in five made a close friend at their place of worship (21 percent) or a club or organization they belong to (19 percent) Ten percent of Americans—and 16 percent of adults with children living at home—say they developed a close friend through their child’s school Only 8 percent of Americans report having made a close friend online more than half (53 percent) of Americans say that the first person they talk to when they have a personal problem is their spouse or partner Sixteen percent of the public say they go to a friend first when confronting a personal issue and 10 percent say they rely on their parents Roughly the same amount (9 percent) say they turn to a sibling or other family member Five percent of Americans say they first reach out to their children when dealing with a personal issue.  Fewer Americans appear to be relying on friends for personal support than they have in the past. A survey conducted by Gallup in 1990 found that more than one-quarter (26 percent) of Americans said their friend was the first person they would turn to when they had a personal problem.[4] Young adults and singles are unique to the extent that they rely on friends for emotional and personal support One in four (25 percent) young people (age 18–29) say they typically talk to a friend first when they have a personal problem Young women are slightly more likely than young men are to rely on friends for support (29 percent vs With the average age of first marriages rising steadily and fewer Americans turning to friends for support Young men are now more likely to rely on their parents for personal support than other people in their life Thirty-six percent of young men say their parents are the first people they reach out to when facing a personal problem Roughly one in four (24 percent) young women say their parents are their first call.  The number of young men relying on their parents for personal support has more than doubled over the past several decades only 17 percent of young men and an identical number of young women reported that their parents were the first people they talked to when confronting a personal problem Close to half (45 percent) of young men said they turned to their friends first One reason young men are more likely to seek out their parents for support may have to do with their living situation More than half (52 percent) of young men are currently living with their parents Young adults who live with their parents are twice as likely to rely on their parents for support than those with other living arrangements There is an even larger gender gap between unmarried men and women. Nearly four in 10 (39 percent) single unmarried women say they usually talk to a friend when facing a personal problem, compared to 30 percent of unmarried men[5] unmarried men are significantly more likely than women are to say they rely on their parents for help when dealing with a personal issue (39 percent vs Gender differences are also apparent among married Americans Married men are significantly more likely than married women are to say the first person they talk to when they have a problem is their spouse say they turn to their spouse when they have a personal problem Many Americans do not have a large number of close friends. Close to half (49 percent) of Americans report having three or fewer. More than one-third (36 percent) of Americans report having several close friends—between four and nine. Thirteen percent of Americans say they have 10 or more close friends, which is roughly the same proportion of the public that has no close friends (12 percent).[6] The number of close friendships Americans have appears to have declined considerably over the past several decades. In 1990, less than one-third (27 percent) said they had three or fewer close friends, while about as many (33 percent) reported having 10 or more close friends.[7] Only 3 percent said they did not have any close friends Many Americans are not overly satisfied about the size of their friendship group About half of Americans (51 percent) report they are very satisfied or completely satisfied with the number of friends they have Thirty percent say they are only somewhat satisfied and 17 percent say they are not too or not at all satisfied with the number of friends they have Women are slightly more likely than men are to report being satisfied with their number of friends A majority (54 percent) of women say they are completely or very satisfied compared to less than half of men (48 percent).  There are notable racial and ethnic differences in feelings of satisfaction about the number of friends Americans have Black and Hispanic Americans express greater feelings of satisfaction than White Americans do Close to six in 10 Black (58 percent) and Hispanic (56 percent) Americans report they are very or completely satisfied with how many friends they have About half (49 percent) of White Americans say the same Americans who have more friends report higher levels of satisfaction with the number of friends they have levels of satisfaction move linearly: As Americans accumulate additional friends only 29 percent report being completely or very satisfied with their number of friends Less than four in 10 (39 percent) Americans with only one close friend and 43 percent of those with two or three close friends report being completely or very satisfied A majority (56 percent) of Americans with four or five friends say they are completely or very satisfied Two-thirds (67 percent) of Americans with between six and nine friends are completely or very satisfied and three-quarters (75 percent) of those with 10 or more close friends express this level of satisfaction Some friends Americans see infrequently or maybe only in certain places Other friends may have been close confidants since childhood Most Americans report having several different types of friendships Most Americans have situational friends or place-based friendships—people they mostly see in certain places such as work Nearly seven in 10 (69 percent) report having a friend they see only in certain places or at certain times Activity friendships are also quite common About half (51 percent) the public say they have activity friends people with whom they participate in social activities Nearly four in 10 (39 percent) Americans have online-only friendships or friends they interact with solely via the internet Childhood friendships are ubiquitous among the public Two-thirds (67 percent) of Americans say they have a friend whom they have known since childhood Yet despite the prevalence of these types of friendships they have become less common as Americans age More than three-quarters (76 percent) of young adults have a childhood friend Childhood friendships are particularly prevalent among Black Americans Nearly eight in 10 (78 percent) Black Americans report having a friend whom they have known since childhood These types of friendships are significantly less common among White (66 percent) and Hispanic Americans (64 percent).  Having a friend of a different gender is fairly common in American society Fifty-eight percent of Americans who have a close friend report having a close friend of the opposite gender men are more likely than women are to report having a close friend of a different gender (63 percent vs having an opposite-gender friend is much less common among married people Married women are far less likely than other women are to report having a male friend Only 43 percent of married women—and 54 percent of married men—say they have a close friend who is a different gender nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of unmarried single women say they have a close male friend The frequency with which Americans talk to their friends and their preferred mode of communication vary widely A majority (54 percent) of Americans say they texted a friend within the past 24 hours Thirty percent say they talked with a friend on the phone in the past 24 hours while fewer Americans—only 16 percent—report sending an email to a friend over this period There are stark generational differences in the mode of communication Americans prefer to use to get in touch with their friends More than six in 10 (61 percent) young adults say they have texted a friend within the past 24 hours older Americans are far more likely to have sent an email to a friend Nearly three in 10 (29 percent) seniors say they emailed a friend within the past 24 hours There are no significant generational differences in the frequency with which Americans talk to their friends on the phone There are massive differences in the degree to which men and women rely on friends for emotional support and are willing to share their personal feelings Nearly half of women (48 percent) and less than one-third of men (30 percent) say they have had a private conversation with a friend during which they shared their personal feelings in the past week.  Men are also far less likely than women are to have received emotional support from a friend Four in 10 (41 percent) women report having received emotional support from a friend within the past week women more regularly tell their friends they love them About half (49 percent) of women say they have told a friend they loved them within the past week Only one-quarter (25 percent) of men say they have done this meaning younger men are no more likely than older men are to have shared their personal feelings with a friend men who have female friends are significantly more likely to express their feelings and receive emotional support than are those without Twenty-eight percent of men with female friends report that they received emotional support from a friend within the past week compared to 16 percent of men who do not have female friends Compared to men who have only male friends men with female friends are also more likely to have shared personal feelings (38 percent vs 25 percent) and to have told a friend they loved them (35 percent vs Most Americans report having a best friend Nearly six in 10 (59 percent) Americans say they have one person they consider their best friend and their prevalence hardly varies at all among the public best friends are a common feature of American social life.  fewer Americans have a best friend today than they once did three-quarters (75 percent) of Americans reported having a best friend a dramatic decline over the past three decades best friends include people beyond their immediate or extended family About only one in five (21 percent) Americans say their best friend is a family member while the vast majority (78 percent) say they are not Among those who say their best friend is a family member they are most frequently identified as their spouse or partner.  There are few differences among the public in the identity of best friends but White evangelical Protestants are unique to the extent that their best friends are family members More than one in four (26 percent) White evangelical Protestants who have a best friend say this person is a family member.  The survey included a question that asked respondents to share what it was that made someone their best friend While there is not any one characteristic or experience that Americans identify A 25-year-old Hispanic woman described her best friend as someone whom she has known for most of her life. "She and I have been best friends since we were in the third grade where she and I can reach out to each other after any amount of time and no matter how long it’s been there’s only good vibes and love." A White 54-year-old man similarly leads with how long he has known his best friend. “I’ve known this person for over 30 years We have seen the best and worst in each other and have seen each other through some difficult times.” For many Americans, being friends with someone for a long time is an important These open-ended results are consistent with other findings Compared to Americans who do not have a childhood friend those who do are much more likely to have a best friend Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of Americans who have a childhood friend also have a best friend less than half (47 percent) of Americans who do not have a friend from their childhood say they have a best friend A majority (53 percent) do not have either.  political affiliation is probably not a prerequisite for forming a friendship but both Democrats and Republicans are far more likely to have friends who belong to their preferred party About eight in 10 (82 percent) Democrats and Republicans (80 percent) say they have at least some friends who share the same political identity Republicans have more bipartisan friendships than Democrats do A majority (53 percent) of Republicans say they have at least some friends who are Democrats less than one-third (32 percent) of Democrats say they have at least some Republican friends Although political disagreements are common few Americans report having stopped talking to or being friends with someone because of their views about government or politics Only 15 percent of the public have ended a friendship over politics Ending friendships over political disagreements occurs more among liberal and Democratic-leaning Americans Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans are to report having ended a friendship over a political disagreement (20 percent vs Political liberals are also far more likely than conservatives are to say they are no longer friends with someone due to political differences (28 percent vs No group is more likely to end a friendship over politics than liberal women are; 33 percent say they stopped being friends with someone because of their politics.  The reasons Americans give for dropping a friendship are varied A White college-educated man said: “I can’t deal with crazy people who worship Donald Trump.” A Hispanic woman offers a similarly blunt explanation: “If they were a fan of DJT I wanted nothing to do with them.” But many Trump supporters were equally willing to walk away from friends whose views of the former president did not align with their own “I have unfriended people online and stopped talking to people who didn’t respect our great President Trump.” In all 22 percent of Americans who have ended a friendship cited Trump as the reason The survey was designed and conducted by the Survey Center on American Life Interviews were conducted among a random sample of 2,019 adults (age 18 and up) living in the United States including all 50 states and the District of Columbia All interviews were conducted among participants of the the Ipsos KnowledgePanel a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the US general population Interviewing was conducted between May 14 and May 23 2021 Interviews were conducted in Spanish and English participants are chosen scientifically by a random selection of telephone numbers and residential addresses Persons in selected households are then invited by telephone or mail to participate in the Ipsos KnowledgePanel For those who agree to participate but do not already have internet access Ipsos provides at no cost a laptop and internet service provider connection People who already have computers and internet service are permitted to participate using their own equipment Panelists then receive unique log-in information for accessing surveys online and then are sent emails throughout each month inviting them to participate in research The data were weighted to adjust for gender by age The sample weighting was accomplished using an iterative proportional fitting (IFP) process that simultaneously balances the distributions of all variables The use of survey weights in statistical analyses ensures that the demographic characteristics of the sample closely approximate the demographic characteristics of the target population The margin of error for the qualified survey sample is +/– 2.4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence [2] Economist, “Parents Now Spend Twice as Much Time with Their Children as 50 Years Ago,” November 27, 2017, https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2017/11/27/parents-now-spend-twice-as-much-time-with-their-children-as-50-years-ago [3] Steven John, “7 Ways American Work Habits Have Changed in the Past 10 Years,” Business Insider, March 27, 2019, https://www.businessinsider.com/american-work-habits-culture-change-2019-3 [4] Although the wording was identical in both questions there was slight variation in the response options Gallup asked about only “husband or wife,” while the May American Perspectives Survey asked respondents about their “spouse or partner.”  [5] The single unmarried married category includes respondents who have never been married and who are not currently in a committed romantic relationship [6] The definition of “close friend” is subjective and open to interpretation The results are in keeping with previous work on the social networks The American National Social Network Survey conducted in 2020 found that 17 percent of Americans had no close social ties defined as someone the respondent had talked to in the past six months about an important personal matter.  [8] Note: In this analysis Democrats include people who identify as Democrat and Independents who lean towards the Democratic party Republicans include people who identify as Republican and Independents who lean towards the Republican party May APS 2021 Topline Questionnaire Download Our Data A new report by the Survey Center on American life finds that safety concerns and declining trust are reshaping modern dating leaving many singles feeling pessimistic about their prospects Sharp gender divides in attitudes toward dating apps and relationships reveal how these challenges are redefining the search for connection Americans are increasingly divided on gendered issues A new report by the Survey Center on American Life provides context for how these divisions might impact the results of the 2024 Presidential election Disconnected: Places and Spaces presents new survey findings that suggest Americans are less connected than ever before A survey of more than 6,500 US adults focused on the 2024 presidential election reveals a pessimistic and unsettled American electorate fractured by education SaveSave this storySaveWhile Midwest emo may have originated in Middle America during the genre’s late-’90s heyday, it eventually found a home on the coasts. Much like Seattle’s Sunny Day Real Estate and Philadelphia’s Algernon Cadwallader fit into a scene thousands of miles from its epicenter the band Double Grave gracefully adopted the sensibilities of the late 2010s Northeastern slowcore revival from their home state of Minnesota themes of vast physical and metaphorical emptiness provide a backdrop to songs that sullenly grapple with getting older and trying to remedy the pitfalls of adolescence in the rear-view It holds up alongside distorted post-shoegaze classics but stays true to its chilly northern roots Lead single “The Farm” deals with the predictability of recurring desolation and “Long Drive Home” confronts the difficulty of trying to open one’s heart in a world where stoniness is an essential trait The lyrics about feeling like pure garbage and its fuzzed-out whammy guitar initially sound like a soundtrack to getting home from school and throwing down one’s backpack in a huff But the mysticism in the album’s fascination with death and alienation shows that Warden is reflecting candidly about the grim realities of transitioning into “real adulthood.” All this is more or less the byproduct of a band coming into their own sound an invisible process akin to the worries of aging Warden touches on throughout The sorrow that churns through the album feels dramatic and forlorn but the neurosis in Warden’s songwriting gives the record heart “Hard times keep coming down on me/I don’t know where I went wrong/I try to be cool and friendly/But nobody wants me/Nobody cares,” Warden sings on the stripped-down closing track “Too Late.” This kind of snow-dusted misery throughout Goodbye is what makes the best slowcore records stand out in an oversaturated scene Catch up every Saturday with 10 of our best-reviewed albums of the week. Sign up for the 10 to Hear newsletter here. we needed each other for protection and acquiring food Nowadays the threats from isolation are not as apparent but social isolation and loneliness are still detrimental to your health Despite how connected we think we are on social media nearly half of adults feel lonely or left out and a quarter are socially isolated With the pandemic and its restrictive lockdown measures these numbers are likely to be much higher While people may refer to loneliness and social isolation interchangeably Social isolation refers to the physical separation of a person from others while loneliness is the perception of being alone You can still be lonely while being around a lot of people you can be living alone but not feel isolated as long as you have a strong social network Social isolation and loneliness tend to be higher in older adults friends and family members may have passed away and reduced mobility may keep us from interacting with others low income and not being married all increase the chances of being isolated or feeling lonely young adults may also experience loneliness and to a greater extent than middle-aged adults Social isolation and loneliness can increase your chances for heart disease, stroke and early death. One study reported that being socially isolated was associated with a 60% to 70% greater chance of death over seven years Some researchers have even suggested being isolated or lonely is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes per day Many of the negative health effects of isolation and loneliness may be due to increased risk factors people who are lonely have increased blood pressure Animal studies have shown that being isolated can lead to stiffer blood vessels ongoing isolation and loneliness can change your immune system and result in inflammation making you more susceptible to disease and infection Isolation and loneliness can also impact medical treatment. People with heart failure who were lonely had more hospitalizations and died earlier than those with heart failure who weren’t But having a chronic condition may also lead to social isolation and loneliness because of physical limitations or a lack of energy There’s also a strong connection between social isolation Both conditions are associated with increased anxiety and depression four weeks of isolation resulted in long lasting challenges to memory and mental function With isolation and loneliness being so common it’s likely that you or someone close to you is feeling lonely or isolated We’ve survived over thousands of years by being connected with others — and the need to do so is as important now as it was then Just like nutritious eating and regular activity social connections are important for you to live a healthy and long-lasting life Get the latest research and health tips. Sign up for our newsletter Healthline and other updates tailored just for you.  This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Services apply © Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the heart and / Icon on its own or followed by another icon or words are trademarks of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 2025 will be matched by a generous anonymous donor until $250,000 in gifts are received He would have been the gentle one of the family But he died in his sleep a few years before I was born the pain of his loss remains a defining part of our family story His ashes are kept in a birdbath at the bottom of my parents’ garden prompted by anniversaries or some familiar smell What people often say when they meet someone who has been recently bereaved is that they don’t know what to say Much better to say that than to say nothing don’t say “there’s a reason for everything” even if you feel it’s a bit goofy or awkward My mum tells the story of a neighbour who chose to walk down a different supermarket aisle when she saw her coming She was too frightened to talk to the woman who had just lost her baby I’m having dinner with my friend Decca Aitkenhead. Two years ago her partner, Tony, drowned in the sea off Jamaica and she’s just published a remarkable book about it called All At Sea though I’m not keen on connecting that word with grief as it’s often a way of encouraging people not to make outward expression of inner distress – “be a brave boy” being code for “don’t cry” What Decca’s book doesn’t include is that a year after Tony died she was diagnosed with breast cancer So Decca knows a thing or two about grief and We begin to talk about the complex dynamic that often takes place between the bereaved and their would-be comforters The comforter is willing to reach out but is anxious So the comforter pulls back for fear of getting things wrong walks down the other aisle in the supermarket precisely at the point when human contact is needed most There is commonly a double loneliness to grief – the loss of the loved one who has died and the loss of those who withdraw often it’s the bereaved person themselves who ends up feeling pressure to comfort and reassure those who are supposed to be their comforters it’s common for the bereaved to feel obligated to disavow the extent of their own darkness I’ve been taking funerals for over 20 years I still remember my first – a bit like a nervous lover how anxious I was not to say or do anything wrong But what I now know is that no well-chosen phrase is ever going to make things better so don’t try and force them to do things they can’t And nor will an artificially sympathetic face Bereaved people don’t want you acting all weird around them You stand with people in their darkness so it’s not so lonely there But the most important thing is simply to be there and listen and not be frightened by not being able to make things right Job’s so-called comforters were a useless lot always trying to make some religious sense of the tragedy that had befallen him the Book of Job’s line on talking to the bereaved is probably: don’t try and rationalise things That’s often more about the comforter’s need to explain away the darkness than the need of the bereaved When the brilliant Gillian Rose wrote about her battle with cancer in Love’s Work, she employed an epigraph from an early 20th-century Russian Orthodox monk Silouan the Athonite: “Keep your mind in hell and despair not.” Or very roughly translated: just hold their hand and let them talk and cry @giles_fraser But while those long-form compositions have evoked solitude and the natural world using modular synthesizers Emily Alone is built from simpler tools: double-tracked vocals and the occasional birdsong leaking in from an open window If Sprague’s ambient compositions are a wash of concrete images and color then folk music is where she grapples with uncertainty sighing voice lends itself to repeated motifs rising at the end of each line like a question even during two interstitial passages of spoken-word poetry Her guitar playing is similarly inquisitive Most of her songs alternate between just two chords: bittersweet pivots that draw your attention less to a melody than to the motion Sprague plays folk music in the traditional sense but the atmosphere she creates is more like new age—practiced as a meditation Her point: Life goes on and then it doesn’t A word that pops up over and over again in these songs is “now.” Repetition of the word is Sprague’s quiet way of addressing the suddenness of life the abrupt shifts and lost connections that mark time Her songwriting on Emily Alone exists as a document of all her passing nows: a slow rainy season where her mind remains in constant flux This dissonance between herself and her surroundings becomes the record’s primary tension “I believe in things we cannot see,” she sings in “M.” She accompanies herself softly on piano flickering like dim candlelight: deeply felt but only half-understood the sound of un-transcribable emotions dissolving in warm air All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. a poignant extension of his acclaimed 2024 album Heavy.  The expanded project deepens the emotional terrain he began to map in the original release including a standout duet with rising vocalist Maeta SiR sharpens his narrative voice while broadening his sonic palette.With Heavy Deluxe: The Light SiR invites his audience to witness a full arc—from struggle to resilience It’s not just an album; it’s an offering of growth earning over 110 million Spotify streams and widespread critical praise it wasn’t just a body of work—it was a reckoning he closes that chapter with grace and emotional clarity “I’m happy to be staring at the end of an era,” SiR said about the deluxe release “These new songs served as therapy during a time of growth I’m excited to see how they connect with my fans.” That connection feels immediate in “The Light,” a sun-drenched opener steeped in reflection and the quiet ache for renewal committed to transformation yet weighed down by the past “Back” follows with a confession from within the eye of fame’s storm Me and my addictive personality,” he wonders letting the beat echo his internal push and pull.  More: SiR Celebrates His First Plaque More: Masego Taps SiR For "Old Age"[via]