Why Loneliness is in the deck
Loneliness is documented on every continent, and it’s highest among the young. A Meta-Gallup survey found 27% of people aged 19–29 felt lonely, against 17% of people 65 and older (Gallup). Thesis is a 16+ game, so this is a word its players know well.
How people read it differently
The World Health Organization defines loneliness as a gap between the connection people have and the connection they want (WHO). That makes it a health word: the WHO runs a commission on social connection.
For the person feeling it, it’s often a private shame. An Australian survey reported by ABC News found that many people feel ashamed of being lonely and don’t talk about it (ABC News).
The WHO definition also explains why two players can read the word so differently. One can be alone most of the week and not feel lonely. Another can have a full calendar and feel it every day. In one forum thread, a person describes having plenty of acquaintances and being nobody’s go-to friend (Mumsnet).
A player may talk about a first week in a new city, a crowded party, or a quiet stretch they liked.
The other side: Perfume
On the back is Perfume. A guide to making a memory box for someone with dementia lists perfume next to photos and fabrics, because a scent can bring a person back (Trinity Homecare). The Perfume side can bring a parent’s bottle on a shelf, a first perfume, or a smell on a stranger that made someone turn around.
How to play this card
Draw the card. Choose a side: Loneliness or Perfume. Roll the die. Look at the word from that side.
The faces are MEMORIES, BODY, PEOPLE, VALUES, CHILDHOOD and FUTURE. Say as much or as little as feels right.
The others ask what they’re curious about, gently: What did that feel like? Who else was there? Has it always meant that to you?
Related words
From the Self cluster: Belonging, Shame, Nostalgia. Play a round in the free online game, see the deck, or read the research.