Sometime in the empty hours, unfazed that my screen light will raise another sleeper from their rest I read that loneliness has become the next elegant pursuit. It's all the rage, apparently, for some - still in full bloom of youth - to ape the trappings of a monastic life (then document it for a distant multitude) They take bites alone in restaurants; roam unaccompanied through their fashionably spartan living rooms, and scan still, crystal lakes against Technicolor skies. Perhaps they really do know the lack, the loss, the long, lonely days that gnaw to the bones. Of the still and silent phones, and questions unanswered against cold, hard tiles. Not least, the dearth of another's soft sighs against one's skin.
Thank you, Claire. That means a lot. Yes, making a connection, giving in to that vulnerability, seems far harder. I remember the actor Tom Hardy saying (I know...) that being alone can be seductive. It's peaceful. And therein lies the trap.
What a beautiful meditation on what’s aptly called ‘shadow play’ here. As I grow older, I increasingly appreciate waves and trends that are bigger than the individual. I guess this ‘shadow play’ is one of those.
Thank you, Mahdi! I'm so glad you took something from the poem. And yes, if it's a true trend, it's a melancholy one, I think. Especially if loneliness has ever really been part of one's life.
Thank you so much, Morgana, for reading. I really appreciate it. And yes, it's a strange thing to isolate purposefully; to gravitate to loneliness. Maybe it's a craving for a simpler life. Or perhaps it's a real loneliness, especially when it's documented; a hope for connection with strangers. Either way, anyone who has the misfortune of having loneliness thrust upon them must wonder why one would want it self-imposed at all.
I definitely think there's something of a craving for a simple life in there; I also read that a few "loneliness influencers" found themselves isolated through change of life circumstances such as moving to a new area, a relationship breakup, etc, and my sense is that they just wanted to make the most of it rather than being a victim to it - discover the upside, as it were. Ironically though (and quite beautifully) it seems like a few of them have found more connection through showing their lifestyle online and this has changed their lives for the better. I guess there's often pro's and con's to these "movements" (I almost said "always", then thought of a few movements I couldn't say that about!).
Ah. Yes, a lot of that makes sense. But I suppose it must be an odd thing to gather attention through such a lifestyle, then to find purposeful connection as a result. A good thing, obviously. But it reminds me of a quote from the film 'The Princess Bride' when the character Inigo Montoya says: 'I've been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life.'
Stunning as always. I found myself hoping loneliness never becomes fashionable. Connection has always seemed far braver to me. X
Thank you, Claire. That means a lot. Yes, making a connection, giving in to that vulnerability, seems far harder. I remember the actor Tom Hardy saying (I know...) that being alone can be seductive. It's peaceful. And therein lies the trap.
What a beautiful meditation on what’s aptly called ‘shadow play’ here. As I grow older, I increasingly appreciate waves and trends that are bigger than the individual. I guess this ‘shadow play’ is one of those.
Thank you, Mahdi! I'm so glad you took something from the poem. And yes, if it's a true trend, it's a melancholy one, I think. Especially if loneliness has ever really been part of one's life.
Beautiful. I read about this trend recently and felt quite sad about it - feels good to see it exploded this way.
Thank you so much, Morgana, for reading. I really appreciate it. And yes, it's a strange thing to isolate purposefully; to gravitate to loneliness. Maybe it's a craving for a simpler life. Or perhaps it's a real loneliness, especially when it's documented; a hope for connection with strangers. Either way, anyone who has the misfortune of having loneliness thrust upon them must wonder why one would want it self-imposed at all.
I definitely think there's something of a craving for a simple life in there; I also read that a few "loneliness influencers" found themselves isolated through change of life circumstances such as moving to a new area, a relationship breakup, etc, and my sense is that they just wanted to make the most of it rather than being a victim to it - discover the upside, as it were. Ironically though (and quite beautifully) it seems like a few of them have found more connection through showing their lifestyle online and this has changed their lives for the better. I guess there's often pro's and con's to these "movements" (I almost said "always", then thought of a few movements I couldn't say that about!).
Ah. Yes, a lot of that makes sense. But I suppose it must be an odd thing to gather attention through such a lifestyle, then to find purposeful connection as a result. A good thing, obviously. But it reminds me of a quote from the film 'The Princess Bride' when the character Inigo Montoya says: 'I've been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life.'
It's very "hall of mirrors" in online /influencer life, isn't it? Good quote :)