A collection of reflections and resources on loneliness, social isolation, solitude, friendship, belonging, and human connection in later life. Loneliness in later life can arrive suddenly. A spouse dies. A marriage ends. Retirement removes the people and routines that once filled the week. A move leaves
“The eternal quest of the individual human being is to shatter one's loneliness.” — Norman Cousins Loneliness is not always the absence of people. Sometimes it shows up in the middle of everyday life. It can be felt in a room that has slowly grown quieter, in a
Spirituality and Loneliness in Later Life Recent studies have revealed a troubling trend: nearly half of adults today have fewer than three close friends in whom they can confide. That number has doubled since 1990. This is not a new concern for us. In earlier reflections on
The Last Repair Shop Meaning There are some things we fix because they are broken. There are others we restore because they matter. That difference sits at the heart of The Last Repair Shop, the Oscar-winning short film set inside a Los Angeles workshop where a small
Retirement is supposed to bring relief. More time. Fewer demands. A different pace. And for many, it does. But after a while, something else becomes noticeable. The day is no longer organized for you. It is less clear where you are needed. The answer to “What do you do?” takes a
Editor’s Note It has been some time since we last shared a From the Circle reflection. This one arrived recently and seemed important to share. A Reader’s Reflection There are moments when a reader’s words arrive with a certain weight—especially when they speak to the work of finding
Some people spend a lifetime searching for where they belong. Others simply remain. Questions of belonging in later life rarely surface all at once. They tend to emerge slowly, often in the very places where our lives have already taken shape. In rural Oregon, on land that had
👉 A Wish for This Night Those of us who gather here come to this night carrying many different stories. For some, this evening is full—voices overlapping, plates passed, familiar rituals. For others, it is quieter. A candle in the window. A chair left empty. Inconvenient memories
The quiet ritual beneath the holiday Thanksgiving arrives each year with its own mix of emotions. The calendar says “holiday,” but what we really gather around is ritual—familiar dishes, repeated stories, the same seat at the table. These small returns tether us to one another. They
Unlocks Fitness and Fun SilverSneakers may sound like a garage band from 1967, but for millions it has become the golden ticket to movement, laughter, and community. Whether you’re the extra outgoing type or an indoor introvert, it’s easy to join. Offered in gyms, community centers, or online