Your timing is perfect. I think I've pretty much surrendered to it. But I don't call it loneliness. I call it emptiness or a sense of not being connected. It is of my own making so I wouldn't know how to begin to fight it.

Loneliness is what I feel when surrounded by other people, even those I know well. I have a lot of acquaintances and a few are what I would consider close friends. But as an introvert, I turn down most invitations to parties, dinners, weddings, etc. mainly because I feel out of place in a room full of couples and small groups. I know that I am not living my best life. There are a lot of things I'd like to do, but I don't want to do them alone, and I sure don't want to do them with a bunch of people.

I will admit that I ache for one special person who puts me first. One with whom I can share the minutiae of my day, go out for a spontaneous dinner or a concert in the park.. watch a sunset or go for a walk. Someone who "gets" me and isn't constantly trying to push me to be "more social". Someone with who I can think out loud without fear of being judged.

To quote Popeye, "I am what I am and that's all that I am"

Here's an article I really enjoyed. Hope you do too
[learning-mind.com]