You Can Be Surrounded by People Online and Still Feel Alone

The internet tricks you into thinking you’re connected. But connection isn’t noise, it’s presence.

The Illusion of Connection

I work for a gaming company where I have the privilege of connecting with thousands of people every day. I also get to work from home, which has been a huge blessing for me and my family.

Being online like that is amazing. Sometimes I have to pinch myself, it’s a dream job. I get to meet people from all over the world, talk with them, laugh with them, and build something that matters.

But there’s another side to it, one that’s harder to talk about.

When you’re public-facing online, you also become a target. People say things to and about you, and sometimes even your family, that they’d never say in person. Most days, I can shrug it off. But every once in a while, it cuts deeper than I’d like to admit.

“You can be surrounded by people online and still feel completely alone.”

The Moment It Hit Me

A few months ago, after a particularly rough day, I shut my laptop and just sat there in silence.
It hit me how alone I felt.

I’m surrounded by people online, but in that moment, I didn’t feel seen by anyone.
I don’t have coworkers around me. I don’t have office chatter or casual check-ins. I was in a quiet room, isolated, wondering, Does anyone really get what this feels like?

That’s when I realized something had to change.
I didn’t need to quit what I was doing, I love my work.
I just needed to reset.

Finding Connection Again

I started small.
Walking my dog.
Going to the gym.
Reaching out to friends instead of refreshing social feeds.

I traded noise for movement, and in doing so, I started to feel human again.

That’s what inspired The Reset, this space, this project, and the upcoming Reset Toolkit.
It’s not about throwing away your life online; it’s about balancing it with what’s real.

The Reset Toolkit

Next Tuesday, I’m releasing the Reset Toolkit, a free, practical guide to help you start finding real connection again.
Simple tools. Small steps. Real change.

If you’ve been feeling that quiet ache of loneliness, the one that lingers even when you’re surrounded by people online, you’re not broken, and you’re not weak.

You just need a reset.