Hi there,
Last week we inadvertently co-opted Mother’s Day to spark a conversation about ADHD (moms take Adderall too!). A lot of you had thoughts on the topic, which made us happy; our proudest moments are when we start conversations and help people make sense of their health and wellness… though simply offering Samm’s tips for writing distraction-free is cool too!
This week’s topic is also one that inspires a lotttta passionate discourse: the state of singleness. Being single is often treated like a temporary phase rather than the destination itself, but when 25% of US 40 year olds have never been married, it seems like more people are embracing a romantically unattached life as the destination. This week’s contributor, friend from across the pond Ismene Ormonde, explores her journey to embracing a state of singleness (and it includes a stop in Sicily… not too shabby).
So without further ado, to Sicily!Jocelyn, more into sports than romcoms (where are the sports romcoms?)
Ismene Ormonde is a culture writer and essayist based in London, with words in The Guardian, Observer, and Byline, amongst others. She writes about the pursuit of pleasure on her Substack.
One thing that makes Ismene feel well: Lying down in the sun until I'm sweating and then jumping into cold water always makes me feel alive and happy and healthy!!
The limitless pleasure of being single
Back in winter, I was telling some guy about my mum’s life as a single woman. She lives on an island off the coast of Sicily, her days structured around morning swims, afternoon writing sessions in cafés, and evening aperitivi with her friends. “The world makes you feel like the worst thing you can be as a woman is older and single,” I said, “But she isn’t alone. She’s living this beautiful life.”
That was when he interrupted me, putting his hand on mine. “That’s so sad,” he said, “People aren’t meant to be single.”