In 1969 a song was released about being single called “One is the Loneliest Number.” Made famous by Three Dog Night, the recording reached number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 that year and number four in Canada. The song is known for its opening line:
“One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.
Two can be as bad as one,
It’s the loneliest number since the number one”
Is one REALLY the loneliest number? Do you sometimes feel awkward about living alone? Are your friends telling you to remarry, get out of the house, or to stop spending so much time by yourself? Solitude is not a disease and the facts prove how healthy it can be to be alone:
According to one study, over 36 million people were living in single-person households or almost 28% of the U.S. population in 2019, a number that has almost doubled over the past 50 years. Data reveals that national income and the amount of one-person households are correlated. This indicates that people are more likely to live alone in more prosperous countries vs. poorer locations. But there must be much more to the choice of living alone than just materialism.
Social interaction with friends, family and other human beings is physically and emotionally healthy. It is equally important to understand that experiencing solitude is not necessarily indicative of feeling lonely. In fact, solitude is just as essential to our well being as sociability. For many individuals, loneliness and solitude are not the same.
How can you incorporate more solitude into your life today?
If you find yourself feeling secure and happy when spending time alone, living in solitude is a great choice for you. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be introverted to live in solitude. When you embrace being alone, one is not ‘the loneliest number in the world’ and the expectations of others fall away as you finally are able to hear your heart speak, and find refreshment for your soul.
Living alone is welcome at CRISTA Senior Living. We connect & celebrate generations through grace, compassion & inspiration. You can find out more at www.cristaseniorliving.org or call today to schedule a visit.