Episode 168: Home Alone
/“The general discourse around it is let’s all band together and support the mothers and fathers in this trying time. And not once has it been mentioned, let’s band together and support the people who are enduring this by themselves.”
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“So much of what I’ve been reading about how to adjust in the pandemic is how to keep up social relationships. And that’s unquestionably important. But I think it’s also important to talk about the value of solitude.”
“It forces you to some personal growth whether you like it or not. When it’s not about survival you get to know yourself in a different way.”
Joan DelFattore
Being single is a lifestyle choice for some women and an unwelcome reality for others. In this episode we meet three women, each with different perspectives on living and working alone, especially during a pandemic.
Retired professor Joan DelFattore has been happily single for decades. Susie, a consultant, is mourning the lack of a husband and children. Her isolation during Covid just makes everything feel worse - particularly when HR seems fixated on families. And psychotherapist Magali Rozenfeld says being by yourself can provide unexpected opportunities for growth.
You can also read a transcript of the show.
Further reading: This is the best piece on loneliness I’ve ever read, by Financial Times writer Claire Bushey.
Here’s Joan’s Washington Post piece, Singles Say They’re Better Prepared to Self-Quarantine, But Many Fear Getting Short-Changed in Medical Treatment.