Jesse | Red Beach / Orewa, Whangaparoa
“I guess [loneliness] would be not having, or not feeling like you have someone to relate to.
Like if you feel like you can’t relate to someone or talk about something that you’re going through at the moment, then it can be easy, if you’re isolated, and through being isolated you can be lonely. That would the best answer I can think of.
So, I guess it’s like feeling you’re the only one who’s been through or going through that situation, and then it’s a fantastic moment when you actually reach out to someone and go, well hey I’m experiencing this, and they go let’s talk about this, let’s work through it together.
I guess the best way to help is just to listen. You don’t necessarily need to fix their problems straight away. You need to listen and through that relationship with listening it establishes a connection between you, and you can pull someone out of being alone, you can still walk with them through it, and in that way you can strengthen them and if there’s two of you, it’s a whole lot stronger than one of you going through something.
I grew up in Auckland – we lived in St Heliers until I was six or seven then my mum had cancer and nearly died during the chemotherapy process. I guess what’s important to me? Being connected is important, like having people around you that can kind of carry. What’s the best way to put this? Well, I’m a Christian, so I go to church every week and I help out and serve there. So for me, that’s really important, and that’s something that I place priority on above everything else, so that helps me keep focussed, and that’s one of my biggest priorities in life.”
