Four Days Without Human Connection — Yes, Even Me

Sometimes it’s easy to isolate yourself from others—even when connection is one of your core values.

I had gotten myself into a bit of a funk and became very comfortable not leaving the house for four days. And the longer I went without social interaction, the less I wanted it.

Fortunately, I have good friends. And I genuinely love helping them whenever I can. So even though I was perfectly content wallowing in my isolation, I was absolutely going to honor my offer to take a friend to their doctor’s appointment and pick them up afterward.

Since I was already out of the house and had a couple of hours to kill, I went downtown and stopped at my favorite coffee shop. While I was there, I ran into a young woman I had met while running a 5K a couple of months earlier. We had bonded during the race, and she hugged me goodbye at the finish line.

When she saw me at the coffee shop, she hugged me again.

My spirits lifted instantly.

I took my coffee for a stroll along the riverwalk, enjoying the sunshine and the water. I said hello to people as they passed and offered a genuine smile each time.

I’m not sure what felt warmer—the sun or the connection.

What struck me later was this: sometimes connection isn’t easy. For some people, it’s more uncomfortable than it is for others. And often, it takes intentionality.

Even if human connection isn’t one of your core values, it’s still a vital part of whole-person health. Research shows that face-to-face interaction releases neurotransmitters that can act as natural painkillers, lower stress, and boost mood.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert.

It’s good medicine for everyone.

And sometimes, doing what’s best for us requires stepping just a little outside our comfort zone.

So where might you need to reach for connection today?

Embrace it.
Do it anyway.
And let the benefits flow.

—Valerie Renee, MCPC: Building authentic human connection — from the inside out