Befriending and being nice to people

Hello all,

I have just seen the above posts. As previous post mentions it is easy to feel worried about your future when you feel that you have been put out from your job and lost the security that brings. I can sympathise / empathise with that, since that is what happened to me three years ago! I was manoeuvred into retiring from a job that I had worked in all my life and found that I would not be able to get another job (for a variety of reasons); but I have survived and without (thus far) any Benefits! So it is possible, try not to give up or despair. Although I appreciate it is difficult sometimes not to feel like that.

You are quite right, a little kindness costs nothing and can go a long way to cheering another lonely person and making them feel part of the community, so well done you! Part of my disabilities is being neurodiverse, which can hamper me starting conversations with others, especially people I don't know but I have a disabled friend and we have often (although not for quite a while due to other circumstances) take a flask to a local quieter park and sit and chat and often talk with passers by.

The telephone chat, I was interested in, as I wanted to do something myself and via telephone for me would be ideal. Considering I worked in the NHS for many years but was not aware of the service Little fat friend mentioned. Once, I have recovered from recent surgery, I will investigate this further! I usually do a couple of voluntary jobs too, however, am unable to do this for a while, as I cannot get to them, since not allowed to drive for six weeks. It also, enables me to help others and give something back, so despite your disabilities, most of us can contribute however small to making life a little kinder for someone else.

Well done for trying. Good luck!

Hello Whistles,

Yes, once library's were a good source of information but sadly these too are disappearing from our High Streets. My local library only opens briefly twice a week (I believe), once in the morning for about two hours and another evening for about two hours. For people who live in the surrounding villages, who rely on public transport this can become quite an issue to access the library. The nearest larger library is about 18 miles away and takes about an hour and a half to get to the town, then a walk (not sure if bus goes past) quite a distance if mobility is an issue to reach. I may have internet but my internet skills and technology do not mix well with my neuro diverse conditions, so often I give up or am left bewildered trying to work out how to access information.

It is certainly a lovely idea and despite my own disabilities that 'hamper' interactions, I think that I might manage a conversation with a lonely person even though a stranger is outside my personal comfort zone, simply because it might bring some cheer to another lonely individual.

As previously mentioned, I worked many years in the NHS and can honestly say that I did not know of the exitance to this resource.