The Loneliness One dare not sound

Struck by the #FeedbackFriday reports this week-a lot of adult learning provision hasn't been fully operational since the pandemic and Adult Learners are feeling very lonely and left behind. 


The information was quite worrying because the feelings described are strong and have tremendous pull but not in the right way. I was trying to find a way to report it effectively when I came across an article in Harvard Business Review. It talks about the loneliness of workers-but what about those who don't work and have no contacts. It leads by saying, 'Loneliness has the same effect on health care outcomes as 15 cigarettes a day'.


In the UK we say we want to tackle loneliness because we understand its impact-yet we struggle-not sure why-there are so many ways we could help and adult learning is a proven to be effective-so why do we as a society turn the other way-why do we discriminate?  We need to do better Scotland, we're failing our people.


As the piece develops it also mentions a poem by Emily Dickinson written over 150 years ago, I thought I might share her piece on loneliness, I'm sure some of you will already know it. It best describes what our learners were telling us. This is especially for you Learners' Forum and thanks for all you do.


The Loneliness One dare not sound
And would as soon surmise
As in its Grave go plumbing
To ascertain the size

The Loneliness whose worst alarm
Is lest itself should see
And perish from before itself
For just a scrutiny

The Horror not to be surveyed
But skirted in the Dark
With Consciousness suspended
And Being under Lock

I fear me this is Loneliness
The Maker of the soul
Its Caverns and its Corridors
Illuminate or seal