Why am I so lonely? Do you ever ask yourself that question? On Google’s “Lonely Life” website, a lady by the name of Amanda made this entry: “I am living in NYC. I miss my family really bad. My boyfriend dumped me. I lost my job. I am feeling very, very lonely tonight - lonely enough to Google loneliness.”

Loneliness is increasing in America. IN 1985, 10% of Americans said they had no close friends. By 2004, that percentage had increased to 24.6%. Loneliness is an epidemic.

And I think I know the reason why. Americans have bought a lie. We were raised to believe that rugged individualism was the road to happiness. We also bought in to the illusion that self-discovery spelled Utopia. We worked for and secured our privacy. We have our private bedrooms, private baths, private entertainment …