When I left London for the Cotswolds in 2020, I truly believed I knew what I was letting myself in for. But I never, ever thought that I might be lonely, or how much that would affect me.
The article recounts the author's experience of moving from London to a rural area in the Cotswolds, where they unexpectedly faced extreme loneliness and isolation. Despite expecting a picturesque and fulfilling life, the author found themselves isolated, with no nearby friends or support system. They describe the stark contrast between the romanticized image of country life and the harsh reality of living alone in a remote area, where even simple tasks, like dog walking, highlight the lack of community. The author reflects on how difficult it was to build meaningful connections and acknowledges the unique bleakness of rural loneliness. However, they find a small silver lining in joining a village yoga class, which provided some solace and connection.
