Wisdom, distilled. The Internet loves to write think pieces about how we’ve lost our attention spans. Where did they go? Social media is one obvious culprit. I personally like to pick on TikTok for reasons such as : 5 TikTok Challenges That Left Thousands Injured and Over 100 Dead. In general, I’m pretty anti short-form video and the fact that information is becoming more and more condensed into visually-stimulating, “aesthetically-pleasing” 30-second sound bytes. Give me words. Give me...
27 days ago • 2 min read
Because life after social media is lighter, richer, and just more enjoyable It’s not easy to put down the phone. For many of us, it has almost become an extension of ourselves. Some people even carry it on a chain around their neck or attach a micro version to their wrists. Most of us can’t leave the house without it—and our heart stops when we think we’ve misplaced it. It’s not our fault. The phone is shiny, expensive, alluring. And companies are literally spending millions of dollars to...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Do you like being with yourself? Spending time alone doesn’t usually sound idyllic. Single women are often cast as unfortunate spinsters. Reserving a table for one is a famously embarrassing cliché. From single prom nights to flying solo at weddings to loner Valentine’s Day celebrations, having the guts to go it alone instead of relying on the comfortable, however mediocre, presence of a date is often frowned upon (or at least considered lame). What gives? Why is doing things alone so widely...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Wandering à la Merry Loner Lifestyle in Cannes, France, November 2024. While the Merry Loner Mindset praises leaning into self-confidence and going after your dreams, I haven't always done so publicly—and when I have, it often comes with a lot of hesitation and worrying before hitting PUBLISH. It just doesn't come naturally to me. I don't maintain an Instgram account with lots of pictures of myself. I'm always forgetting to post on LinkedIn, even though that's what all the freelance writers...
2 months ago • 2 min read
"august sipped away like a bottle of wine" The first weekend in September may already be behind us, but my mind is still on summer sun, breezy linen skirts, and travel plans. August was a packed month for me! After enjoying the first weekend home in Paris with coffee dates and a stroll in my local community garden, I've spent the last three weekends living out of my beloeved, beaten-up leather duffel bag: a trip to Jarosławki, Poland for a wedding; a long weekend in Saint Louis, with...
3 months ago • 5 min read
Solo summer activities you’ll love—no matter your relationship status. I usually spend winters hibernating. Living in the UK, where you essentially experience six to eight months of gloom every year, I find my life energy reawakens with the return of spring and summer. But this summer hits differently. It’s my first-ever summer living alone. Since I’m in my early thirties, many of my friends are busy with their kids and/or are away on holidays with their partners, so I’ve found myself...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Live what's beyond the screen. It feels a little sad thinking about writing this, but such is life in the age of an in-your-face, 24/7 newscycle, look-at-me-aren’t-I-interesting influencers, and cat videos. Understandably, I think it’s safe to say we’re all a little addicted to social media—even those of us trying to live a more analog life with paper books and journals replacing excessive screen time. But it’s not easy. When you’re eating dinner, unwinding after work, or just waiting in line...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Don’t let your fear of traveling alone hold you back. These tips will help. I’m pretty happy being by myself. In fact, I would say I’m comfortably a 4.5 on the Five Stages of Being a Merry Loner. I’ve gotten to the point where going to the cinema with anyone else seems utterly ridiculous (it’s the least social activity imaginable), and there is not a shred of self consciousness when eating alone at a restaurant. Zilch. So, you’d assume solo travel would be a breeze, right? Well, let me...
4 months ago • 2 min read
to making the most of warm-weather days This month, the city is quietly humming in a summer haze, and so am I. I am tuned out of algorithms and doomscrolling and, instead, indulging in the slower activities I actually choose that stimulate my brain and my soul. And it’s working. There is no FOMO, envy, or loneliness once you’ve learned how to enjoy your own company. Have you? Welcome to A Merry Loner, the blog about learning to enjoy your own company. I write about: 🌻 LONER MINDSET: fresh...
4 months ago • 4 min read