Living Single

That NPR article is a fantastic find! I'm going to put it in next week's "Singles in the News" column on my blog. Thanks for turning this up!

Food has such ingrained associations with family and community that I think some singles feel embarrassed or pathetic to eat alone. Yet nourishing oneself is one of the most basic acts of self-care and one of the most fundamental pleasures. Preparing and eating good food is a way to honor ourselves, single or coupled, and increase our sense of well-being.

I also really like the theme of the article about seating arrangements. It doesn't make much sense to go to a social event and not expect to socialize, but that's exactly what couples do when they insist on remaining attached at the hip at parties. For some who are more introverted, I think this is a bit of a crutch so they don't have to talk to strangers. For others, there seems to be an element of jealousy, as though they don't trust each other to be alone in a room full of attractive people. Still others seem overly concerned with unwittingly making a spouse feel left out or rejected. I have to admit it hurts my feelings when married people I haven't seen in awhile are so obsessed with their significant others that they can't spare me some time to catch up or when they seem suspicious that I might try to "steal their men," which is insulting and downright laughable. I can't think of a single friend whose husband I'm attracted to. In any case, it all makes me glad I'm single and don't feel obligated to keep someone else continually on my periphery as I work a room!