Most people over 60 have experienced significant losses, whether it’s the end of a marriage, the death of a partner, the end of a friendship, or the departure of children who build a life far away. Loneliness can creep in silently and eventually turn into deep pain.
When a kind, attentive, and present person enters our lives, the brain may be quick to label the comfort they bring as “love.”
But often it is not love, but relief.
see the continuation on the next page
A sudden love story cannot cure loneliness. True healing comes from meaningful social bonds, soul-nourishing routines, and a sense of personal purpose. When your entire emotional world is based on one person, you not only lose your balance, but you also give that person a chance to influence or control you in unhealthy ways.
2. The fear that “this could be my last chance”
When a person in their twenties experiences a romantic breakup, they usually bounce back with the belief that life is full of possibilities. But at sixty, the pain of a love disappointment is felt more heavily. Many fear that if a relationship ends at this age, they will never be able to find love again.
read more in next page
