If one of your New Year's Resolutions is to ease the pain of loneliness, I have news for you: Being in the wrong company can be far worse, as such feelings are only magnified.  Ask yourself this: Do you really think you'd feel lonelier by yourself, or in a group of people you hardly know and may have little in common with? As shocking as it may be to some, it's perfectly normal to enjoy your own company. You don't need other people to enjoy such hobbies as reading, writing, listening to music, and exercising. Besides, sometimes you need alone time to contemplate and catch a breath of fresh air after a tough day. In essence, being alone and being lonely aren't one and the same. The former can actually be a plus -- something one seeks for their general well-being. The latter, on the other hand, is a negative condition one generally tries to extricate themselves from. Having others around can be a boon if you know and trust them. In the absence of such rap...

One of my closest friends recently got into a relationship and has fallen off the map completely. A guy who'd call me often and post something on Facebook almost daily, he's seemingly vanished without a trace. And he's not the first friend to go down this route. Truthfully, this has left me scratching my head. Why do some people enter into a relationship and forget that their friends exist? Here are some possibilities: The relationship consumes them to the extent that they neglect all other aspects of their social life Their partner wants your friend all for themselves, and your friend acquiesces  They feel complete with a partner and no longer see the need for friends It's normal for people not to have as much time for friends once they hook up with someone else. But kicking friends to the curb is wrong on so many levels.  For one, our friends have been there for us through the thick and thin. Over the years, some of them have invited us along on th...