EDITOR’S LETTER
FIND STRENGTH IN NUMBERS THIS MONTH
L ast year the Red Cross published research claiming that almost one-fifth of the population – that’s more than nine million people – experience loneliness on a regular basis. It’s a statistic that struck a chord with me. How apposite, I thought. What with the ongoing Brexit narrative and the portentous forewarnings that 2017 will be a year of isolationism, this seemed a potent symbol.
Then, having scolded myself for being such a pretentious twerp, I realised that perhaps the real reason it resonated is a little closer to home. Maybe I’m lonely.
Don’t get me wrong. I have good friends and an adoring family. I just don’t see them much. I work hard. Then, even when I’m not working, it tends to follow me around like a stink. Sometimes when I find myself driving home at a time when I know loved ones will still be up, I slow down, preferring to keep my intensity to myself rather than inflict it on others. When I exercise, I run long distances – alone. You don’t need to be the editor of this magazine to know that’s not healthy.
If you’re anything like me – and figures suggest I’m not the only emotional incompetent here – then fortunately there’s much to inspire the introspective man out of his own navel.
In our cover story, King Arthur’s Charlie Hunnam talks about the importance of “tribe time” with his mates, “do[ing] this beautiful, connective thing where we practise [Brazilian jiu jitsu] together.” It has now become second nature. “Without having to make plans, I see my pals three or four times a week,” he says. “Even if it’s just… to choke each other out.”
Elsewhere we cite another study that reveals how people who train as a team, be that a cycling club or Sunday league pub outfit, are not only less likely to experience depression, but also more likely to feel a greater sense of purpose.
My guess is that of those nine million people experiencing loneliness, only a portion – the elderly, the bereaved, the disenfranchised – have legitimate reason. The rest of us need a kick up the backside. We may be busier than ever. Chance may be tougher than ever. But life is good. We should embrace it.