Authentic Connections

Often overlooked is how masculine facades of strength and confidence are toxic to men. Men are not allowed to be vulnerable and struggle to connect with friends and family on a deep level, driving isolation and loneliness. 

Each generation of parents is affected by the social, economic, and political realities in which they grew up as children. Further, their fundamental parenting style is a reaction to the methodology of their parents. Perfectionism is one of the most invisible and toxic concepts that often result in high levels of anxiety and despair. Read: The Fourth Turning is Here by Neil Howe

Athletics at any level seem to offer an antidote to loneliness:  community and belonging, purpose, support, exercise, and healthy diet. Yet, the rates of depression and suicide are skyrocketing among college athletes. Read CNN Health

Compartmentalizing and creating structures around professional and personal time is a modern concept designed by corporations to dehumanize work, disassociate people from facets of their lives, and drive competition for jobs. The time you spend working is not separate from your life. In fact, all the time in every day is your life. How you spend your time and with whom you spend it should be a conscious and intentional decision to construct a meaningful and fulfilling life.

People tend to live in personal cocoons - disconnected from other humans. The gig economy, work from home, online shopping, suburban sprawl - all contribute to living in isolation. Many people also move for work or educational opportunities, leaving established communities and social groups. Read: Japanese apartment building combats loneliness