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 perspectives on learning to genuinely enjoy your own company

📚 BOOKS: reading lists for people who love being alone with a good story

🕯️ ANALOG LIVING: inspiration to step back from the screen and live a life offline

🧳 SOLO TRAVEL: guides on where to go and how to enjoy it alone

💚 MINDFUL CONSUMPTION: vetted recommendations for a simpler, less wasteful life

🤝 LONER Q&As: interviews from global voices on how to live a meaningful, enjoyable life

New This Month

​5 Alternatives to Amazon for Books (and why I no longer buy books from Amazon)​

I’ve already ranted about the problem with shopping on Amazon Prime and why I “broke up” with Jeff Bezos. In the 5+ years since I’ve cancelled my Amazon Prime membership and given the entire online store the axe, I’ve done a lot of research on where to buy books online other than Amazon. Turns out, it’s not that hard. It’s not expensive. And it doesn’t take extra effort from your end. But the social and environmental impact is real—and very worth it.

In this post, I share my top 5 favorite alternatives to Amazon for books—for everything from physical books, audio books, and ebooks to new and used copies with worldwide (free) shipping. I also share the 3 main reasons why I stopped buying books (and everything else) from Amazon and why you might want to consider doing the same. READ​

​Feeling Alone in a Relationship: It’s Not Always About the Other Person​

GUEST POST ALERT! This month, I share words from Janine Canillas, a former stunt performer turned writer whose work spans TV, video games, poetry, journalism, and children’s literature.

In a deeply personal essay, Canillas explores why so many people still feel alone even when they’re in a relationship and the sad reality that many of us use unfulfilling relationships to avoid being alone with the thing we’re most scared of: ourselves. READ​

​How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone​

There’s nothing wrong with craving company. We’re social animals and hardwired for community and connection. But when the presence (or absence) of others becomes the deciding factor for how you live your life, your life isn’t your own anymore.

Doing things alone isn’t lame. It isn’t embarrassing. And it doesn’t have to be anxiety-inducing. It’s a skill—and something you can learn (and get better at) over time. Yes, sometimes it feels awkward, especially at first. But every time you take yourself out (whether that’s for a dinner, a walk in the park, or a weekend trip), you realize that you’re capable of creating your own happiness. And that’s not loneliness. That’s freedom.

In this post, I share 5 simple ways to get better at doing things alone so you can do things on your own without feeling self-conscious, lonely, or like everyone is staring at you. READ​

​6 Ethical Tea Companies for Fair Trade Tea Bags & Organic Tea​

Any tea fiend will tell you that a warm pot of tea is more than a beverage. It’s the gentle friend of difficult mornings, the balm for aching throats and breaking hearts, and the cozy companion for rainy days and quiet nights.

Some people really suffer to give us these special moments, though. The tea industry is wrought with exploitative labor conditions and nefarious business practices that take advantage of workers and our precious Earth.

There’s no need to feel guilty or pressure yourself to overhaul your entire pantry this afternoon. Just start small. One box of tea means a few more dollars funding sustainable farming, clean water access, or workers co-ops—and fewer dollars inflating Amazon’s shareholders’ pockets. READ​

Missed issue No. 006 of A Merry Loner’s Digest?

You’re not too late. Last month, I wrote about taking a step back from the screen to prioritize life offline and recounted my many (many) ideas of how to plan a solo trip to Paris (my home for almost exactly one year).

I also shared a guest post from Isabelle Ravenna: Why Every Woman Should Live Alone at Least Once.

Take Another Look

​Alone at Night in Paris—Where to Take Yourself on a Solo Date​

August will mark one year of my living in Paris. It goes without saying that there are innumerable hidden delights to discover in this unique city. (If you want recommendations on specific spots to visit, I go into great detail in my Paris Solo Trip Itinerary.) But if you want a few ideas on how to take yourself on a date simply inspired by the Parisian atmosphere, I share four good ones here: where to take yourself on a solo date (Paris Version).

​9 Books on My 2025 Reading List​

The daydreaming is intensifying. In September, I will head to Cyprus for my summer vacation. For 10 glorious days, I will do nothing but swim, “hydrate” with Aperol spritzes, and laze in the sun and read, so I’m returning to my 2025 reading list to stock up on a few books for my trip. Because I’m in Paris and there are a few English-language books I have my eye on, that means I’ll be ordering online. But not from Amazon (because Jeff Bezos, ew). Instead, I’ll be ordering from one of my favorite Amazon alternatives for books.

A Merry Loner’s Community

I’m completely touched by the warm words readers have written me this month.

And In the Real World…

• I went on a five-day yoga retreat in the country. It was as blissful as it sounds, and I learned a lot. (Turns out I’ve been doing Chaturanga wrong this entire time.)
• My husband and I took a weekend trip out of Paris to Orléans, and it was equally blissful to stroll a quieter town, eat way too much, and sweat it all out in the hotel sauna.
• Because this summer is the summer of weekend trips, we also took a day trip to Chantilly, where I ate a bowl of whipped cream in the sun and felt no worries in the world could touch me.

To making the most of the warm-weather days,

Merry

“Be in love with your life. Every minute of it.” —Jack Kerouac

​www.amerryloner.com​

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