News

How To Be Alone

Tanya Davis wrote this wonderful poem called, oddly enough, "How To Be Alone," which she put to (some) music and filmed with the help of Andrea Dorfman. Please watch the resulting video: How To Be Alone.

Personally, I love it. Probably because it speaks so much to how I live my life. Maybe not entirely with the same joy that Tanya expresses, but I do do these things, both because I like to and because, as someone who is alone, I have to. What's important in all this, though, is my primary credo: I shalt not sacrifice mine life for lack of someone to experience it with. In other words, don't not do things because you don't have anyone to do them with. Don't miss out on great movies because you're friends are too lame to join you. Don't eat ramen when you could be out enjoying a meal at a nice restaurant. Don't avoid the park because you're afraid of looking odd by yourself. Don't miss a chance to see a great band because you're friends complain they don't know the music. Don't be afraid to sit at home and get drunk in the silence or go out and get dizzy watching the crowds go about their shopping at the mall. Live your life, whether with others or by yourself.

I do all of those things, often happily. Am I happy all the time? Nay, I am not. Though I am happily alone, I am unhappily lonely. Those are different states and I still get them confused depending on the perspective. I will say that there are lots of things I would really like to do with someone or someones and I often miss spending time with my friends and loved ones. But I firmly and steadfastly believe that even without these people around, there is life to be lived and I don't want to miss out. What about you? What do you do or would like to do alone?
Comment on this Article Anonymously

Please note: Comments posted anonymously will be submitted for moderation. Your email address will not be posted.

Allowed tags: <p>, <strong>, <em>, <img>, <a>, <blockquote>, <pre>, <code>, <ul>

expand
If we lived on a planet with 79 hour days, would we all still be complaining that there aren't enough hours in the day? #hypotheticallytrue
3 days, 13 hours ago
I am still not fond of sweet potato chips.
5 days, 10 hours ago
It feels really awesome not caring about Grey's Anatomy anymore.
6 days, 3 hours ago
I saw Dark Shadows, so... http://t.co/g0teiyDb
1 week ago
I finally saw The Avengers, you probably should too if you're the one person who hasn't yet. http://t.co/gNitXU3u
1 week ago
@meekakitty I still don't understand how people can dial wrong numbers anymore. Actually, I didn't know people still dialed numbers.
1 week, 2 days ago
@CRRaysHead90 Thanks for the exchange, I enjoyed chatting with youyou. :)
1 week, 4 days ago
@CRRaysHead90 And that's the point. If your govt can deprive that group of equal rights, then they can deprive YOU of equality as well.
1 week, 4 days ago
@CRRaysHead90 It's about equality, and arbitrarily depriving one group of a right deprives that group of any happiness derived therein.
1 week, 4 days ago
@CRRaysHead90 The right to happiness. I'm pretty sure it's in the Declaration of Independence. http://t.co/kw5JwxIA
1 week, 4 days ago
@CRRaysHead90 By arbitrarily deciding that one group doesn't deserve basic human rights, you must then forfeit your own human rights.
1 week, 4 days ago
Seriously, where the hell do we get off telling Iran or China that they need to work on their human rights records... #hypocritenation
1 week, 5 days ago
Yay NC! Once again joining the ranks of states where hate and ignorance are more important than happiness and respect. #screwhumanrights
1 week, 5 days ago
Does anyone else think SBC's "The Dictator" seems an awful lot like a more offensive "Coming to America"?
1 week, 5 days ago
I saw an unmarked police vehicle. It was a minivan. #keepingitinthefamily
3 weeks, 2 days ago
Well, Mom won the Helen Hayes for best lead actress. So amazing! #hhawards
3 weeks, 6 days ago
3 weeks, 6 days ago
Trying to work out the UN definition of "cease fire," because it clearly isn't what you'd think... #pleasestopshooting
4 weeks, 1 day ago
My review of Cabin in the Woods in which I don't say anything http://t.co/5DDDorfp #goseenow
on 16/4/12
My review of Lockout http://t.co/5U3yKJ2D #crazyirish
on 16/4/12