Living Alone and Loving It: A Guide to Relishing the Solo Life

While the title of this book belittles its depth, I'm glad it was titled so simply. I am going through a divorce right now and living alone for the first time in my life. I'm trying to learn to live alone, so I have been drawn to self-help books on the topic. I went in wanting a self-help book, but this is much better. I didn't know what I needed. This book was it. Beautiful writing, practical suggestions, personal experiences and metaphors that really made me think It's all here.

This book is a celebration of living alone. It doesn't tell you how to bide your time while you wait for a new relationship to come along. It describes the very profound personal experiences of someone who has lived alone for a long time and is good at it. Reading it has made me feel lucky to have so much time to fill myself without the needs of another to consider. I probably will eventually meet someone else, and that is OK. But I know that for as long as I don't, I will be able to relish living alone as a perfectly wonderful (heck almost better) option.

Living alone doesn't have to mean being lonely. There's an attitude shift that can occur that can make it possible to feel interconnected with everyone who passes through our lives. After reading this book, I want to take that time to learn the banjo, write songs, and travel alone to Peru. I have also come to appreciate that although I am not in a relationship right now, nor am I ready to be in one, I can appreciate the male (and female) relationships I have in my life in a new way.

As an added bonus, Barbara Feldon write beautifully. "When we live alone time and freedom are at the service of our muse in a way that artists in a relationship might envy." Gems like this are woven throughout, along with well-chosen quotes from other authors. I like the ones by Rilke best.

I recommend this book unreservedly to anyone looking to find pleasure in solitude, meaning in life, a feeling of interconnectedness with the world, and themselves.

Loved the book because it was so helpful to me personally. I lost my wife to brain cancer 2 1/2 years ago and was having difficult time making it alone.The biggest help to me was the chapter on "Creativity is the quickest route to our truest selves."

For months now, I suppose like other grievors, maybe men more than women, I was always searching for another "partner" but of course no one could equal the woman I lost.

While in Vancouver over Christmas, I found this book, read it in one night, and my life has changed for the better.

Well, I wish Barbara could know how much help she has given to me,

and I wish she had put her e-mail address in the book so I could tell her simply that.

Buy Living Alone and Loving It: A Guide to Relishing the Solo Life Now

The author of this book, Barbara Feldon, was once on the series Get Smart, as the spy "99." She has been through a divorce and even though she started out nervous and felt lonely, she was able to live alone and finally appreciate it.

I was attracted to this book. I am always drawn to the books that emphasize how being "single" or "alone" is not a scary thing. In today's society, from friends or family, you are constantly pushed to be with another person, to get married or have kids. Even though this is everyone's right, it isn't the answer for everyone.

I was expecting a guided list of how to live alone and love it. This was not what was within the book. It was full of wisdom and life lessons. On some parts, I felt as though she were reading my mind what I was never able to verbalize.

She writes: "Living alone gives us the freedom to nourish the things we love wihtout the constraints of a partner's timetable or his or her conflicting desires." This is not to say that we can't fulfill our hobbies or our dreams with someone else there. I think the problem is that we become distracted with taking care of this other person, like having a constant guest in our home. When you live alone, there seems to be more time to get to know yourself and what you love.

This is not a "don't get involved with others in a romantic way." It's quite the contrary. Some people are deeply fulfilled by another person sharing their life, and others have too much they want to fulfill on their own. She writes. "...a love life is not a need like food and air, it's a desire. If we don't eat or breathe, we die; we don't die from unsatisfied passion. Having to set aside romance from time to time is only tormenting if we choose to view it that way."

I loved this passage. "I learned that there are ways to experience romance outside of sexual possession. I had savored for the first time what the sixteenth-century essayist Montaigne called 'passionate friendship': one that is deeply loving, unconditional, and heightened to the level of poetry. We delighted in each other's company, expressed ourselves freely, and brought out the best in each other. Not all conventional relationships call make those claims. There were so many delights that the lack of a sexual component wasn't felt as a deficit." I have experienced this very thing, but I couldn't describe it. There are more ways to connect than just with one person. We connect with people all of the time, but sometimes, we are too busy to notice, or don't put our finger on it why it felt so good to have a passing conversation with a stranger or acquaintance. You will never be lonely if you don't put yourself out there. (Spoken from a true introvert, who also tends to be shy as well.)

Does this mean that I won't couple up? No, I have a boyfriend. Does this mean that I would never get married? No, not exactly. What does this mean? The significance for me is that someone echoes my true feelings about being single. It's not evil, it's not lonely, it's just something that is easier to handle when you are comfortable and love yourself. It also gives you more time to travel around the world which I hope to do someday. If I find myself single again, I hope that I take advantage of all the things single life offered me.

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I broke up with my fiance after deciding that the marriage didn't seem right. It was my first time in 7 years to be without a boyfriend.

At first, I was skeptical about how this book could help me since it seemed more like an autobiography than a manual.

Despite my doubts, this book turned out to be my mantra, especially the first chapter where Barbara Feldon discusses loneliness. One of the key observations was that some people think that they can get rid of loneliness just by enduring long boughts of it. However, she said that enduring loneliness won't help because contact with other humans is our lifeblood.

After being alone and then working on finding friends, I find this so true. Think about your happy memories. Isn't it based upon people or friends? Mine are, and I am much happier to find human support.

My other favorite chapter is the chapter on financial matters. The reason that I like it is because she explains that money means freedom. That just rang so true to my life.

Anyway, I took the advice in the book. I am not lonely anymore. I have a lot of friends now. I don't have any lovers now. I am happy, and my life is healing from the sores of insecurity and sadness that unhappy relationships can bring. Thanks Barbara for your wonderful insight. I wish you the same happiness that I have.

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This book was very insightful. It is well written and a "must read" for anyone needing an uplift. Regardless of being married or single, it will bring a smile to your face. It is obvious that Barbara Feldon (the author) has a positive out look and she is willing to share that happiness with her readers. I hope she writes another book.

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