Lately, I’ve been revisiting some of my older stories, looking for ones that might fit into the new book I’m putting together and others I can share with my Singles New Beginnings group. Barbara and I have found that several of my past writings spark great class discussions. People connect with them because they’ve been through similar situations. Feeling alone is just one example. If you google it, you’ll find this.
Loneliness, as the Surgeon General has pointed out, isn’t just an emotion. It’s a public health crisis affecting half of American adults. In 2023, Dr. Vivek Murthy warned that chronic isolation can be as harmful as daily smoking. It’s increasing the risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, and shortening lives. He called for a national effort to rebuild social ties, as the decline in community quietly hurts both our health and society.
That sense of isolation was one reason I chose Florida over Michigan. There’s simply more for me to do here.
Next Thursday, Barbara and I will hear the two-time surgeon general give a presentation on “The Importance of Gathering.” He’ll be speaking as part of week nine’s Chautauqua Lecture Series in Chautauqua, New York. Murthy will discuss why gathering and connection matter more than ever, as part of his effort to elevate the national conversation around loneliness, social connection, and well-being. I consider it research for our work with Singles New Beginnings.
Singles New Beginnings isn’t a support group, but we do focus on helping singles form new friendships. As one long-time member put it, “If you’re ready to meet good folks, share a few stories, and rebuild your social life without pressure or pretense, Singles New Beginnings is exactly where you should be. It’s the easiest step toward feeling connected again.” That’s why I joined.
As I said in my prior story, my parents once helped people facing Parkinson’s disease make the best of a tough situation. Now, twenty-seven years after my dad’s passing, Barbara and I help people build friendships. Neither of us would have chosen this path, but we didn’t have a say in how life unfolded. So, here we are doing what we can while we have the opportunity.
Mom led the Parkinson’s group with Dad’s full support. Today, Barbara runs Singles New Beginnings, deciding the what, while I help with the how. The Villages sets the when and where, and you decide the who. When you show up, you help determine how it all fits together.
If you visit the area and you’re interested in learning more about us, you need to stop in. If you’re just curious, and wish to look from afar, you can check out the website that my grandson, Brady, built for us.
Singles New Beginnings — Friendship Community in The Villages, FL