How online communities can help you find connection and belonging
Life’s biggest challenges often leave you feeling lonely. You are experiencing deep emotions and no one else can truly understand what you are going through. You can’t plug your emotions in and let someone else in on your inner world or carry them for you for a while.
But having someone at all who’d be willing to carry it with you is key here.
Unfortunately finding someone like that isn’t always straightforward.
For a while, I was friendless. Completely friendless. And I knew something had to change as it was damaging me to my core during formative years.
It was the time of online forums, and so I went online. There, I found an incredibly community of people to chat science fiction with, and some of them are still among my closest friends.
The Spoonie Community
Several years ago, when I finally realised my illnesses weren’t going anywhere, I went online again. The spoonie community was my second saviour. It made me realise I wasn’t alone in experiencing such pain and heartbreak in my life due to a faulty body.
And now, I have my writing community and my business community, where I am making new friends every day.
Community can be found everywhere, all around the world.
It may not be the same as coming over for a cup of tea and a natter, but having people who will make time for you all across the globe is a gift all on its own.
Do you feel lonely? Search online. Find the places where people are who love the same books and films as you do, who do the same work as you do or who are going through the same challenges as you.
You’ll be surprised how quickly you will find those meaningful connections! And then feel less lonely because of it.
Posted on 4 September 2025 on Substack
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