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Connection Matters. It's what makes us human.
Whether it’s your regular barista, the friendly dog on your walk, or the shopkeeper down the road, everyday moments of connection matter. They allow us to make connections, feel happier and less lonely.
For Loneliness Awareness Week 2023, we're encouraging everyone to harness these moments of connection. Together, we can all feel less lonely.
Here's how our team have found little moments of connection recently:
Helen, Marmalade Team
"I mainly work from home, but once a week I come into the office. It's in a much more diverse area than where I live. I get a coffee from a fab little cafe nearby, and having a brief chat with the couple who own it makes me feel part of a different community, the coffee and the connection link me back to other parts of my life, when I worked different jobs and lived in London and travelled abroad."
Lou, Marmalade Team
"Some days it does feel super lonely, even in the busiest places with stuff and noise around, and yet the inner me gets lonely. Finding ways to connect on my own, taking time to feel like life exists outside and around this very moment, like standing up, having a little shake to change state, smiling at a little lovely reminder of the past, or even one of the exciting anticipated future moments. Connecting on my own has proven sustainable for my life."
Amy, Marmalade Team
Jeff is the local big issue seller in my neighbourhood. He is out on the streets when I go to work or walk my dog, wishing people a good day and giving high fives and hugs. It makes me feel so connected to my neighbourhood that he runs over to give me a hug every day.
Elsie's cat, Leo, is the reason she gets up each morning. One day recently Leo went on a wander and she had to go and find him. She searched high and low, and ended up in one of the gardens a few houses away, not in her immediate neighbourhood. The lady who answered the door was older, quite deaf and really lovely, they had a good little chat, and it was really positive. The lady now has Elsie's number, in case Leo strays that far again.
Alice, Marmalade Team
"After years of moving around, my partner and I finally have a place to call home. For the first time since childhood, I know my neighbours. I cherish chats with Lorraine over the fence about slugs and sun-dried laundry. Knowing my neighbours makes me feel like I belong in this neighbourhood. It’s a heartwarming feeling."
Jade, Marmalade Team
"I have spent a lot of time travelling and a lot of my family and friends live abroad meaning that locally I have a very small circle. The time I felt most connected was at my wedding. It was the first time that my family had been in the same place for over 10 years and I was overwhelmed that many of our friends flew over to celebrate with us too, it really showed me that you can forge strong connections anywhere."
Meg, Marmalade Team
"Each week, my neighbours take turns baking potatoes for everyone on the street who wants one. We then all pop round to collect it and stay for a little chat. What started as a cost saver (only one oven on the street needs to be turned on), has now become a weekly highlight and moment of connection for us all!"
*Name changed to protect Marmalade Trust member's anonymity.
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