Read on Twitter
I wrote 6000 words about loneliness, connecting with strangers, and building a relationship with yourself.
It's called "Being Alone": https://ankit.fyi/alone
I'd love if you read the whole essay, but if you don't, here's the twitter version:
(A thread)
It's called "Being Alone": https://ankit.fyi/alone
I'd love if you read the whole essay, but if you don't, here's the twitter version:
(A thread)
Everything about how we as a society are responding to life in quarantine—new social dynamics, life choices, etc.—can be traced back to how each of us relates to our experience of being alone.
(Note: this is also true of life without quarantine, but it is very pronounced now)
(Note: this is also true of life without quarantine, but it is very pronounced now)
All of the new things we do to stay sane are reflective of our need for context.
Normally, time, life compartments, interpersonal interactions, etc. give us contexts within which we can make meaning.
Without it, we're reminded that context can actually be in our control.
Normally, time, life compartments, interpersonal interactions, etc. give us contexts within which we can make meaning.
Without it, we're reminded that context can actually be in our control.
In our imaginations, that can feel empowering: having control of how you relate to the world around you.
In reality, it's often more uncomfortable: what does 90% of my life even mean if I don't have a social, cultural, or physical context?
In reality, it's often more uncomfortable: what does 90% of my life even mean if I don't have a social, cultural, or physical context?
It's this uncomfortable inquiry that's leading to the moment we're in right now.
Each of us is having a very revelatory encounter with ourselves.
And it's happening to all of us at the same time! (It's why now is the most opportune time for systems to change)
Each of us is having a very revelatory encounter with ourselves.
And it's happening to all of us at the same time! (It's why now is the most opportune time for systems to change)
It's almost a spiritual moment for society:
What do we believe in? Who can we be if we have a chance to reset? What do we prioritize? What can we let go of?
(Or more practically: Should I leave the city? Should I stay in this relationship? Do I enjoy my work? What do I need?)
What do we believe in? Who can we be if we have a chance to reset? What do we prioritize? What can we let go of?
(Or more practically: Should I leave the city? Should I stay in this relationship? Do I enjoy my work? What do I need?)
These are scary questions to consider about ourselves. But
it's not because we can't be practical.
It's because we don't always know what it is that we want, who we want to be, who we are.
Finding those answers for yourself isn't easy, but it's important.
it's not because we can't be practical.
It's because we don't always know what it is that we want, who we want to be, who we are.
Finding those answers for yourself isn't easy, but it's important.
Reminder: It's not just important during quarantine. This isn't just about deciding where to move, remote work, and how to get married on Zoom.
It's about the choice you make in being the person that you are in every moment—the version of you that you are always with.
It's about the choice you make in being the person that you are in every moment—the version of you that you are always with.
"Being Alone" talks about how connecting with yourself can look a lot like connecting with others.
It talks about how it's entirely possible that you are enough.
It talks about feeling your voids and understanding them instead of filling them. https://ankit.fyi/being-alone
It talks about how it's entirely possible that you are enough.
It talks about feeling your voids and understanding them instead of filling them. https://ankit.fyi/being-alone
More than anything, "Being Alone" talks about how, to build a relationship with yourself, you need to practice.
Practice being alone. Carving out space to be with yourself without distractions, on purpose—to get curious, to be surprised.
Practice being alone. Carving out space to be with yourself without distractions, on purpose—to get curious, to be surprised.
But I didn't write "Being Alone" for Twitter.
I wrote it for you to sit with a coffee—to read and think about in your own mind, to have a conversation with yourself *about* how you have conversations with yourself. https://ankit.fyi/alone
I wrote it for you to sit with a coffee—to read and think about in your own mind, to have a conversation with yourself *about* how you have conversations with yourself. https://ankit.fyi/alone
"Being Alone" has a language for you to contextualize your relationship to self, a framework to think about how you keep yourself company, and a vision for your sense of self.
I hope you read it.
If you're up for it, reply + lmk what comes up for you. https://ankit.fyi/being-alone
I hope you read it.
If you're up for it, reply + lmk what comes up for you. https://ankit.fyi/being-alone