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Putting the Pieces Together

Linda needed help putting her life’s puzzle together. New to the local area, her struggle seemed impossible. Going through a major change in her life, she felt isolated. 

“I moved to Harrisburg without knowing anyone here after a series of tragedies in my life to start a new chapter. I came here and did not know anyone or anything and then COVID hit. It was difficult to get a job, it was difficult. I couldn’t go anywhere, I couldn’t do anything. I lost my ID when I was moving and so I couldn’t even get a library card, it was horrible. 

And so as things evolved, I got a job working at a community health center. I have no background in this at all, but they hired me to be their non-clinical coordinator of their COVID outreach program and what started happening was I did start meeting people at church and my neighborhood, but every person who called me needed an appointment for a vaccine or a test and I would get off the phone. No one would ever say “Hey Linda, how are you?” And I just felt like I had been amputated. When I lived in Florida my life was so busy and social, and then all of the sudden I was just floating out there by myself. And during a very stressful time. And one day, one morning I was lying in my bed and I was like, ‘My head’s going to explode because I feel so invisible.’

With promise, Linda shared more, “It was amazing what started to happen. I was able to express all this toxic stuff and come back filled with encouragement and enthusiasm. I knew I didn’t need therapy, I didn’t need a religious thing, I just needed someone to tell it to. That is exactly what they did for me. I am very grateful. And I can’t wait to see things evolve with me for the program.” 

Linda’s story demonstrates a connection between the loneliness epidemic and the transformational role of social connection with compassionate listening.