Living Alone—You Bet!

At the post office, I bumped into A. S., an acquaintance in her Mid-seventies whom I hadn’t seen in almost a year. In talking, she told me that her husband had passed away several months earlier. I began to express my condolences…but she stopped me in mid-sentence and exclaimed, “I should have divorced him forty years ago!” Knowing that most would be grieving for a lost mate, I was momentarily speechless. But she went on to say that he was a depressed person who she had put through medical school and that, to her surprise, he retired in his forties! Adele was upbeat and believes she is now better off as a free agent, enjoying her many interests. Though losing a partner is usually felt as a loss, Adele made the important point that living alone can have its advantages. Older single folks can appreciate the freedom of choosing activities and goals, using time and energy efficiently, find positive ways of connecting with others, and taking care of their health. Eat what’s good for you. Get out for a walk. Rest when you need to. Older folks are frequently at an advantage having learned a great deal from life’s lessons and having a good relationship with oneself is key. (And for serious matters, we hopefully realize it is healthy to reach out for help now and then, whether the issue pertains to physical or mental health. legal matters, financial issues, or other.)