How to Be Alone

    "How to Be Alone" covers various pockets of America and their individual stories of quarantine solidarity. The pandemic hit everyone in vastly different ways, but ironically, that's what unites us; all our lives were shaken to their core. Communities have been forced to stay secluded, and the isolation slowly takes it toll on mental health. Like an astronaut, we must stay focused on the mission and keep ourselves busy to force away the boredom and loneliness slowly creeping in. Not everyone has a relationship or friends to connect to, and their human interactions are next to none. My own quarantine experience has been a confusing period of growth. Like everyone else, it began by coming to terms with everything I would no longer be able to do, from going to the gym on a daily basis, hanging out with friends, or going out to eat. My friends and I stayed connected through the voice calls we had nearly every night; most nights we would play games and keep ourselves busy, and others we would just talk about whatever came to mind. In that moment, I became the astronaut; I was connecting back to my mission control through nothing but voice, using those daily meetings to distract a wondering mind. As life slowly turns back to a semblance of normality, the struggle ever evolves, and the constant flow of cancellations and disappointments seem a staple part. In some aspects, the level of freedom we have traps us. If we have all the time in the world, then why does it slip by so quickly? The world doesn't offer a definitive answer, yet it does present a valuable lesson; we must learn how to be alone.