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maggie nelson says “loneliness is solitude with a problem” and wrote about how if one does one’s solitude right, the prize is an ability to love without losing yourself entirely. this has really helped me reframe how i see the past few years of feeling lonely and my discomfort with being single - these days i’ve been sorta leaning into my “solitude” and just really working on coming back to myself and my identity, and trying to see myself as whole even while on my own + appreciating the platonic love i already have in my life
Jun 2, 2024

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in the words of tame impala "company's okay, solitude is bliss"
Jun 3, 2024
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Which Maggie Nelson book is that from?
Jun 2, 2024
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DAVEW it’s from the argonauts! a lot of interesting observations in that on solitude, highly recommend
Jun 3, 2024
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That makes sense. I thought I had solitude for the longest time, but then I met someone whose workplace friendship was unexpected. I kind of fell hard (platonically) and they pulled back. Suddenly being alone was a problem when it wasn't before, but maybe I never really had solitude if I lost myself that way. Thanks for sharing this.
Jun 2, 2024
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mustacheblues it’s hard because i truly believe we are all wired to need human connection, but the way society is set up (at least where i live) it’s so hard to maintain consistent connections, so ya almost have to have a certain level of acceptance to it in order to not feel the loneliness so palpably
Jun 3, 2024
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are there any specific changes you've made or new things you've been doing to lean into the solitude?
Jun 2, 2024
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shaar i’ve been trying to build/explore my inner world more - reading more, journaling, exploring my past/present, who i want to be, etc. i think working towards creating a real sense of identity within myself has helped make being alone feel less daunting and has given me more of a ”core” to fall back on when i’m going through it. also just trusting n believing that it’s very unlikely i’ll be alone forever, but even if somehow i am it doesn’t mean that my life is loveless by any means!
Jun 3, 2024
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catgirl505 this is the best thing I’ve read. I‘ve been doing this as well but i feel guilt! thank u for validating my experience🥹
Jun 3, 2024
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You gotta love yourself before you can love anybody else. There’s a difference between loneliness and solitude. Everything else falls into place once you’re ok on your own.
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I don’t know who I would be without my solitude but I also think I would have fared better if I weren’t so alone all the time. it’s not that I don’t have friends or family to rely on, it’s just that I don’t know who to be other than to be alone.
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