Why Cancel Loneliness Matters So Deeply to Me
In recent months, I’ve found myself unexpectedly emotional while developing resources for the Cancel Loneliness campaign. This is a community activation project I’ve had the privilege to lead through my work with local charity Band of Brothers Qld Inc.
It wasn’t until I started writing phone educational guides and designing posters and invitations to encourage people to notice signs of loneliness with their own peers and family that I realised… I was describing my own needs too.
Why This Campaign Hits So Close to Home
A lot of people assume that if you’re visible and active in your community, you must be thriving socially. But the truth is, loneliness doesn’t always look like isolation. Sometimes it looks like a full calendar and a very quiet house.
I’ve been running a business on my own for years now. That decision brought freedom, flexibility and purpose, but it also took me away from something we often don’t realise we need: regular human connection. Gone were the spontaneous kitchenette chats, team drinks, staffroom lunches & sneaky ciggie breaks, as well as shared celebrations and frustrations of working life.
Add to that a husband who travels extensively for work, adult children who’ve moved out, and a remote-work lifestyle, I began to realise how much of my daily life was happening in solitude.
That’s part of why I started The Ocean Network, and later Ladies Who Long Lunch. These communities weren’t just business strategies – they were lifelines. Quiet acts of courage to reach out and build spaces where connection could bloom again.
Designing a Campaign for People Like Me
Now, leading the Cancel Loneliness campaign, I’ve poured those same emotional drivers into every asset we create:
- Conversation starter guides
- Awareness posters for workplaces and cafés
- Quick Access magnets
- A Four-Step Action framework anyone can follow: Notice, Nudge, Name It, Notify
Every one of these materials is grounded in the idea that moments matter –the theme for this year’s Loneliness Awareness Week, about the small act of reaching out, which can be the difference between someone feeling invisible and someone feeling seen.
Sometimes when I read back through the copy we’re printing or listening to stories from my own peers who have mustered up the courage to share their similar stories, I tear up. Because I know – firsthand – how powerful it is to feel that someone remembers you, and that you’re not alone.
Loneliness Is More Common Than We Think
It’s not just me. According to the current data, nearly 1 in 3 Australians report feeling lonely – and those numbers are rising. Loneliness doesn’t discriminate: it affects the elderly, the young, carers, remote workers, single parents, new residents, and yes, even campaign designers.
We can’t solve loneliness overnight. But we can take action.
We can notice who’s missing from the table.
We can gently reach out.
We can name loneliness for what it is, and we can guide people toward connection and reconnection.
And maybe… just maybe… while helping others, we can begin healing our own hearts too.
Today my emotions have been set off again, as I received a note from the President of Band of Brothers Qld Inc. thanking me for all the work I’ve put in above the call of duty and how much he appreciates how I’ve helped make the Charity focus on what’s important and present something to the community that will not only be effective but a body of work they can take pride in.
We’re still a fortnight away from launching the campaign to the public, and so I have a lot of emotional moments to come I’m sure. But if you’ve ever felt the sting of loneliness, or know someone who has, I invite you to follow along with the Cancel Loneliness campaign.
You could share a message or story with me.
You could even want to know more about how your organisation could become an Advocate.
You might even like to learn how to recognise the signs of loneliness in others so you could refer them if it feels right.
So please reach out to me to help rewrite the story of disconnection, one conversation at a time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR KIRSTY FIELDS
Armed with over 20 years’ experience in the event management business, Kirsty Fields has co-ordinated everything from kids’ events to national sports games. After a successful career in sports, she embraced modern marketing and promotional techniques.
Her passion for training clients in social media, digital marketing and branding has been combined to present her multi-award winning business Social Ocean a bespoke events marketing agency.
Kirsty’s experience in event management and coordination, and the small business space, backed by her passion for marketing, makes her an ideal source for all things related to events, small business, marketing, social media and branding.
You can find a list of podcasts Kirsty has been featured on, on our About page.
