Great post, Renata. Real connections are indeed increasingly scarce. Part of the problem seems to be how, at least in the U.S., we organize our communities. Having just returned from a trip to France, this thought is fresh, although not new.

The U.S. has these vast suburban expanses that are largely decentralized, which make organic, unplanned interactions really tough. In other parts of the world, including France, many people live either in big hubs or small hubs. In Grasse, for instance, I noticed people walking home from work and bumping into friends, stopping at their favorite local haunt, picking up groceries, etc. Their lifestyle included daily interactions with their community, friends and family. It's not exclusive to Grasse or France, of course, but that kind of lifestyle is hard to replicate in suburban America. Some U.S. cities can replicate that, but the cost of living is prohibitive for many, unless you settle for underserved communities that come with other challenges. Some rural communities can replicate that, but fewer and fewer people live there. Plus, they also have their challenges.

As with so many things in the U.S., we created a systemic issue (community, or lack thereof), and we sought a silver bullet to fix the problem. Therapy is great, but, to your point, can't singlehandedly solve the loneliness epidemic.