Just thinking out loud: Humans Alone vs Social

@stuckonu I like what you say here a lot but before I give a real response it will require some very thoughtful moments.
JK

@stuckonu Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are quite a diverse group of people here, and surely there will be a variety of responses to your post. Of course, some of the replies may be written in invisible ink, so they don't actually appear.

You pose a few interesting thoughts, some that may have people questioning either you and your thought process, or themselves saying, "yeah, I totally relate!" Living alone, and choosing to do so for the most part, allows a more complete responsibility of one's life, not responding to the possible controls that a partner may try to place on you. You also have control of your environment in the respects of sound/vision/where and how you live/meals you eat, etc. There is less chance of disappointing yourself or someone else if you are by yourself, and less chance of feeling used or using others. Your intuitiveness as an artist is not thwarted so much by everyday activities, and you may eat/sleep as you see fit, rather than conforming to a mutual schedule. It seems to me there are definite positives to being a hermit so to speak.

At the same time, living alone can rob you of the richness of a shared life, letting you see the world only from where you sit and not being able to share another person's view and viewpoint. Having that repetoire can enrich your own view.

This is my thought pattern based on your post, randomly put down.
Ginger

I appreciate the honest sharing of your thoughts @stuckonu . I agree with what ginger just said regarding the benefits of living alone and also the benefits of sharing your life. I personally look at this topic through the lens of "what is the purpose of life " or "why am I on earth. " my answer, for me, is simple. I am alive to interact with others in my world. And I don't mean just family and friends. I believe I am here to help in whatever way possible whoever crosses my path on a given day. Help can be many seemingly incidental things . Talking to the cashier at the grocery store or taking a neighbor some cookies. Or hugging someone you ordinarily wouldn't hug. Or really listening to people when they speak to you . I don't think it matters whether you choose to live alone or with others. I think the only thing that matters is engaging with people with kindness.

@stuckonu Thank you for opening this discussion. What you have written will stay with me and I may have more input for you at a later time, but for now I think you have shared a number of jumbled thoughts and conclusions and are asking us to sort everything out for you. In your shoes I would sort my thoughts out item by item and gather information from other people in person, through research and, as you have done here, in a "chat room" atmosphere. For myself, I have my opinions and conclusions based on my knowledge and research. Sometimes I change my opinion. I use paper and pen or electronics for writing out my thought, not stone. I need a great deal of editing. My advice to you is to keep searching.

@stuckonu I think I’ve read your discussion twice now and I’m a little confused. Maybe more sad. You say that you love being alone, but then you mention the movie, Martian, and Matt Damon’s character. Do you feel that you were left alone at some time and since then have chosen to be alone?

Thank you all for your honest thoughts and feelings.
Being new here I’m struggling some with process and procedure. So, for instance I’m not sure until I hit post if THIS reply will say “ to Becky “ or it will appear as if it is to “all “ HB’s are intelligent enough to figure it out as soon as they read “ thank you all “, that said, I do want to respond to every contributor because each reply tell me something unique.

JK, I patiently await your reply no matter how long it takes

Good Morning Ginger, TY for your reply. On feature of how I look at things came about when computers became available for Personal Computing ( use ) as an “ artist “ I look at and often “ see “ things much more differently than others. It relates in many ways to this posts existence.
Computers introduced me to:
“ copy and paste “ that feature broadened the way I look at and see things, so your reply is a great example; here’s an example : you said “Of course, some of the replies may be written in invisible ink, so they don't actually appear.” I think I know what you mean but by pulling it out and pasting it here in quotation marks I can 1 say that this particular part of your reply touched me and I smiled. Assuming little it’s best to ask you if you want to expand on it or to allow me my own interpretation? However, I can copy and paste other parts of your reply but another way of responding is free flow which is basically what most people do in everyday life IMHO feel free to disagree or correct me if you think I missed YOUR POINT.
In you next paragraph I read and saw the word “ control “ and towards the end of the Paragraph the word “ try “ in context with the point begged clarification. Are you saying or suggesting that a purpose of cohabitation is to TRY to CONTROL others? If, for instance we live together under the same roof I would want to be clear about intentions, beliefs, expectations, and your willingness to Understand vs Know me.
To use a quote from another movie: “ ‘TRY’ NOT Luke. ‘ DO or DO NOT ‘ there is no ‘ TRY ‘

I often say that Yoda’s Jeti lesson to Luke is profound and it’s one of my favorite quotes.

Overall I love that this whole forum exists so whether I live alone or not I get to read what you think.

Thank you for sharing your thought and feelings!

Thanks georgette for your thoughts and feelings. Indeed, as an HB on a crowded planet, being there for others; including other living things is necessary and often rewarding beyond words.

Looking forward to reading your findings after you do research and are ready to share and continue.

TY