Feeling Alone in a Crowd? You’re Not Alone.

Hey everyone, It’s been a little while since my last newsletter, but I’m back with something important that’s been on my mind, and I suspect it might resonate with some of you too. I’m Jo Keppler, and as many of you know, I’m a runner. I’m often surrounded by people, whether it’s on the trails, at races, or just around town in Hilton. People say hi, they know my name, and on the surface, it feels like I’m part of a big, supportive community. And in many ways, I am. 

But here’s the thing: when you’re newly divorced, that feeling of connection can disappear in an instant. You might think that with all these followers and well-wishers, you’d be swimming in support. The reality, though, can be incredibly isolating. It’s like everyone’s suddenly avoiding eye contact. Suddenly, nobody wants your company. It really sucks. It’s hard. You want to cry. You want to just sit in your car by yourself because you feel like you just don’t fit in anymore. This is something nobody seems to be talking about. 

We see the highlight reels, the seemingly perfect lives on social media, but what about the raw, painful truth of feeling utterly lost even when surrounded by people? I recently experienced this firsthand, sitting at a Hilton College first team game. Here I am, “Jo Keppler, the runner,” someone people usually recognize. Yet, in that moment, I felt completely invisible. Lost. Alone. All I wanted to do was drive away and sit in my car. It’s a strange paradox, isn’t it? To be known by many yet feel profoundly alone. 

If you’ve been through something similar, if you’ve felt that sting of isolation when you expected connection, I want you to know you’re not alone in feeling that way. It’s a real and often unspoken part of navigating major life changes. 
There’s Always a Seat at my table

Just because you might find yourself not in the group, or there seems to be no space for you to sit, remember this: there’s always space at my table. I’ll always make sure you’re included. It doesn’t matter whether you’re married or not, whether you have kids or not, or whether you feel successful or not. If your hearts in the right place, I’m the person who will be by your side. Life throws us curveballs, and sometimes those curveballs can make us feel like outsiders. But genuine connection and empathy shouldn’t depend on your relationship status or what society deems as “success.” It’s about being human, being kind, and being there for each other. 

If you’re feeling this way, or know someone who is, reach out. Let’s create a space where everyone feels they belong.