National Cheer Up The Lonely Day 2020 - Important Date, History, Facts, Quotes & How to Celebrate the Day
N Keerthana | Updated Jul 09, 2020 12:45 PM
National Cheer Up The Lonely Day 2020
National Cheer Up The Lonely Day is celebrated on July 11 of every year across the country. National Cheer Up The Lonely Day 2020 aims to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of loneliness that most of the younger and elder generations are facing nowadays. This National Cheer Up The Lonely Day is a remainder for everyone to take care of elderly people or depressed young people by showing extra love and attention.
Loneliness is an acute feeling of being isolated from others which is associated with various adverse effects in mental and physical health, including heart disease, anxiety, diabetes, compromised immune system, and depression. Around two million men and women over the age of 64 suffer from depression according to Mental Health America. From time to time, people feel all alone. The gift of companionship and help may not fix all the problems but it eases the pressure a little bit.
What is the history of National Cheer Up The Lonely Day?
National Cheer Up The Lonely Day was founded by Francis Pesek of Detroit, Michigan.This day marks the birthday of Francis Pesek. His daughter, L.J. Pesek told that his father was a gentle, loving and wonderful human being who always wanted to encourage compassion for those who had been lonely or depressed or in home care centres. When he talked about Francis' mission, many people in his community and in communities around the world associated themselves strongly with his desire to help others and agreed to do their part. National Cheer Up the Lonely Day invites people to reach out and take the required measures to fight this crisis to anyone who is lonely.
Why is National Cheer Up The Lonely Day observed?
Loneliness is an inherent aspect of life. To certain people, it may be temporary, while for some it may be a constant battle. Loneliness will affect the young and the elderly, and people from all walks of life. It can be disruptive to the emotional, physical, and social wellbeing of those suffering from it. Loneliness causes vary from people to people such as health problems, financial reasons, sadness due to loss of loved ones, neglected by families or personal reasons. According to the reports, the average size of the households in the U.S. has decreased over the past decade, leading to a rise of 10 percent of people living alone. So, this day is to take care and support them endlessly and provide them some purpose in their lives.
How to observe the National Cheer Up The Lonely Day?
On this National Cheer Up The Lonely Day, let's think about others, it may be a person in a neighbourhood or depressed friend or elder people in old age centers and spend a day with them. Some of the ideas to engage with are as follows.
Visit the a person and make them feel loved
Prepare a meal and have a chit chat
Take them to a walk to the nearby parks and make social interaction
Share some books or read a book for them
Watch a movie or web series with them
Play some inspiring songs and have a little dance with them
Send a mail or gift cards or sweet treats regularly to stay in touch
Have a phone call and crack some joke
Play any game to feel them relaxed
Take a long drive and eat out
Learn more about the mental and physical illness related to loneliness
Be volunteer and spend time on nursing homes
Use #NationalCheerUpTheLonelyDay on social media and spread some words about Cheer Up The Lonely Day
Loneliness - Facts
Loneliness does not depend on how many friends or relationships that one have
More than 60% of lonely people are married people
Loneliness suppresses the regulation of the immune system
Chronic isolation greatly raises the risk of cardiovascular disease
There is a myth about leadership which is always lonely at the top but actually it is not
In the UK, there is a £500,000 fund open to organisation that are able to do anything to get people out of isolation
In Denmark, they launched a campaign to combat isolation, called “The World Eats Together.” They invite everyone, expat or local, to come to a public park or public place, and eat together
According to a study conducted by the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, loneliness increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Researches at Oxford University found that friendship decreases tension in the body, battles depression, and increases the brain levels chemical endorphins that are stronger than morphine
Social isolation also leads to poor health habits, according to the American Psychiatric Association
Loneliness is as dangerous as smoking
Loneliness is contagious in social network
Loneliness - Inspiring Quotes
It’s easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone. - Mahatma Gandhi
A burden shared is a burden halved. - T.A. Webb
Loneliness is not lack of company, loneliness is lack of purpose. - Guillermo Maldonado
The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. - Albert Einstein
Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better. - Henry Rollins
The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which makes you lonely. - Lorraine Hansberry
National Cheer Up The Lonely Day - FAQ
Loneliness can also be related to internal causes such as poor self-esteem. Persons who lack faith in themselves frequently feel that they are incapable of the respect or consideration of other persons, which can lead to alienation and persistent loneliness.
Although human beings need time alone to allow their brains to relax and rejuvenate, too much time alone or a lack of social interaction can be detrimental to the mental and physical health.
Being socially isolated is terribly dangerous. Research since the 1980s has shown that if one hasn't got friends, family or community relations, the risk of dying early could be 50 percent higher than if one did.
Researchers have found that loneliness is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Lonely people are 50 percent more likely to die prematurely than those who have healthy social relationships.