'You must be so lonely'

[FenellaBestwick]

Yeah, thanks for that.. I live alone, I have no surviving family and I'm divorced with no current new partner. Aibu to think people are really insensitive & thoughtless to keep pointing out I'm all alone? I'd love to have family around me & relatives to visit down the road. Sometimes it really hurts, though I never mention being alone. I do my very best to keep my spirits up, keep myself engaged and get out and about. I could do without people pointing it out though because the context is 'it must be painful/horrible'. Well yes it can be at times. The people who've said this are not people I've ever gone to for help or burdened with moans. How would it be for them if I replied 'yes it hurts a lot'?😔

Could you try saying ‘yes it can be difficult’ the next time someone says it? Maybe then they’d realise it’s insensitive.

They’re just projecting their own fears of being alone onto you. I don’t see anything wrong with just being honest and saying it can be difficult, but you try to keep your spirits up etc, exactly what you’re doing. It’s insensitive , would they like you to point out what you perceive to missing from their life ? I’m pretty sure they really don’t want you to start crying and confirming their fears, so why do it!