The document emphasizes the critical need for genuine conversations and emotional support among individuals, highlighting that many people feel suffocated by their emotions due to a lack of safe spaces to express themselves. It points out the dangers of maintaining social images that prevent vulnerability and contribute to widespread mental health issues like anxiety and depression. The author calls for a return to heartfelt, non-judgmental communication, encouraging readers to be available listeners and supportive friends to those in need.

1. Come on, let’s start talking again.
lifeschool.co.in /lsm/come-lets-start-talking/
Dearest Friends,
People need people to talk to; they need people they can open
their hearts to;people need people to hold hands and feel
strong; they need people who can hold them and let them cry.
I am not talking about a romanticized partner or a bollywoodised
friend. I am not even talking about families or counsellors. I am
just talking about people. Just anyone.
We really do not realize how badly people need a release. I
work with people and I work on myself. And I know how
important conversations are.
We, as a society, really have no idea how suffocated people are
in their emotions. Most people have nobody to express
themselves entirely to. Everyone is holding back their
vulnerabilities to maintain the social image of a confident and
happy person.
Heart-to-heart conversations have become rare, artificial and shallow. And most hearts are filled with empty
defences.
Most people can’t even talk to their life-partners openly for the fear of being judged or rejected. Emotions await just a
release. Social images make sure weakness is not glorified.
Children have bottled up stress. Young people suffer anxiety and depression.
It is just lack of social support. It is lack of non-judgmental friendships. It is result of fast and busy lives where
nobody has time to just sit and watch someone cry. It is result of instant and impatient lifestyle practices, that
emotions have started feeling like waste of time.
We have whatsapp and facetime and social media – and we have stress and anxiety and depression.
Our forefathers had neither. Because they talked to each other. Because talking helps.
The face-to-face type talking,
the just-listen-to-me type talking,
the hold-my-hand-and-let-me-cry type talking,
the sit-next-to-me-and-listen-to-my-silence type talking…
the talking where the person can be themselves and say anything they feel without the fear of any judgement or loss
or rejection.
Today we don’t like that type of talking. Those conversations when someone begins to undress one’s mind, feel
awkward. We don’t ever want them. In fact we avoid them. And so, mental illness is epidemic. Naturally.
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2. There is not much we can do. But we can offer a listening. We can be the people someone can just come over and
talk to. We can be the people someone can just cry in front of. We can help people free themselves from the prison
of their own minds.
Let’s be the go-to person for someone. Let’s learn to be friends with the friendless. Let’s let people talk without any
fear. Let’s create conversations.
Come on, let’s start talking again.
Loads of Love,
Valentine Shipley
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