“Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.” “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.” “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Mother Teresa of Calcutta Mother Teresa of Calcutta
I don’t know about you but if I am lonely long I don’t know about you but if I am lonely long I don’t know about you but if I am lonely long
enough I become sad and bitter which can enough I become sad and bitter which can enough I become sad and bitter which can
turn into depression if I am not careful. Look turn into depression if I am not careful. Look turn into depression if I am not careful. Look
around; people have to work hard each day at around; people have to work hard each day at around; people have to work hard each day at
not being lonely. It isn’t automatic; there are not being lonely. It isn’t automatic; there are not being lonely. It isn’t automatic; there are
things you and I can do to not be lonely. things you and I can do to not be lonely. things you and I can do to not be lonely.
-Listen more than you talk. Make eye -Listen more than you talk. Make eye -Listen more than you talk. Make eye
contact, nod your head, and smile. contact, nod your head, and smile. contact, nod your head, and smile.
-Don’t hide or keep to yourself. Put yourself -Don’t hide or keep to yourself. Put yourself -Don’t hide or keep to yourself. Put yourself
in natural positions to meet people (work out in natural positions to meet people (work out in natural positions to meet people (work out
at Preston, hang out in the food court, cruise at Preston, hang out in the food court, cruise at Preston, hang out in the food court, cruise
the art galleries, grab a seat in Garrett). the art galleries, grab a seat in Garrett). the art galleries, grab a seat in Garrett).
-Don’t force it. Its okay to feel lonely but -Don’t force it. Its okay to feel lonely but -Don’t force it. Its okay to feel lonely but
being needy or clingy will push people away. being needy or clingy will push people away. being needy or clingy will push people away.
-Give it time; don’t feel bad if people don’t -Give it time; don’t feel bad if people don’t -Give it time; don’t feel bad if people don’t
call you or ask you out right away. Just keep call you or ask you out right away. Just keep call you or ask you out right away. Just keep
talking to them, listening to them, and being talking to them, listening to them, and being talking to them, listening to them, and being
around them. They need time to know you. around them. They need time to know you. around them. They need time to know you.
-Invite people to do things with you; other -Invite people to do things with you; other -Invite people to do things with you; other
people might feel as lonely as you. people might feel as lonely as you. people might feel as lonely as you.
-Volunteer! This is a natural way to meet -Volunteer! This is a natural way to meet -Volunteer! This is a natural way to meet
people without pressure and to see how people without pressure and to see how people without pressure and to see how
people enjoy being with you. people enjoy being with you. people enjoy being with you.
-Be okay with being lonely from time to time. -Be okay with being lonely from time to time. -Be okay with being lonely from time to time.
Another word for loneliness is solitude. Another word for loneliness is solitude. Another word for loneliness is solitude.
-On average, people have six close friends. -On average, people have six close friends. -On average, people have six close friends.
Everyone doesn’t have to like you nor do you Everyone doesn’t have to like you nor do you Everyone doesn’t have to like you nor do you
want to limit yourself to just one close want to limit yourself to just one close want to limit yourself to just one close
friend. friend. friend.
College should be challenging… College should be challenging… College should be challenging…
not overwhelming. not overwhelming. not overwhelming.
The Counseling and Testing Center The Counseling and Testing Center The Counseling and Testing Center
provides advice, support, and provides advice, support, and provides advice, support, and
therapy to WKU students, therapy to WKU students, therapy to WKU students,
consultation to WKU faculty and consultation to WKU faculty and consultation to WKU faculty and
staff, training to graduate students, staff, training to graduate students, staff, training to graduate students,
and testing services for the campus and testing services for the campus and testing services for the campus
WKU Police 270-745-2548 WKU Police 270-745-2548 WKU Police 270-745-2548
USA National Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE USA National Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE USA National Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE
LifeSkills Help Line 1-800-223-8913 LifeSkills Help Line 1-800-223-8913 LifeSkills Help Line 1-800-223-8913
Mental Health Screenings www.ulifeline.org Mental Health Screenings www.ulifeline.org Mental Health Screenings www.ulifeline.org
Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University
Counseling and Testing Center Counseling and Testing Center Counseling and Testing Center
270-745-3159 270-745-3159 270-745-3159
www.wku.edu/heretohelp www.wku.edu/heretohelp www.wku.edu/heretohelp
Potter Hall 409 Potter Hall 409 Potter Hall 409
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11024 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11024 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11024
Bowling Green, KY 42101 Bowling Green, KY 42101 Bowling Green, KY 42101