Four Hundred Friends and No One to Call is a book Val Walker wrote after finding herself alone in a time of need, and having to rebuild her social safety net. Despite the inclusive promise of social media, aloneness is a growing epidemic in the United States. COVID-19 has only made it worse. It's a bit embarrassing to have the feeling that you've run out of friends. And it's scary to admit that you need to take some action steps to change that fact. In this interactive presentation we will address the "burden" of isolation and explore ways to combat it. We'll discuss how to befriend our loneliness, rather than feel ashamed of it, and use it as a tool to find the courage and initiative to move beyond our current habits and help you pave a path for yourself, or for a friend, in order to find joy.