The Subtle Power of Solitude
If I was asked to describe today’s society, I would say that it’s an epoch deluged with distractions.
We are all too distracted by the latest celebrity scoop. We are all too engrossed in social media — uh hrm, I’m talking about you, Tiktok. We are all too focussed on everything else besides ourselves.
Hence, I did something most will find weird.
A solo movie date — with my single-ass self.
Just 2 weeks ago, I went out alone to watch the latest Marvel movie, “Multiverse of Madness”. I don’t mean to spoil anything, but they should mention that it was going to be a horror film somewhere in the trailer.
Usually, I will always have my friends by my side while watching a movie in a cinema. Not to forget, there’s always the occasional shoulder bump and chatters when something impressive or relatable appears on the screen — a wholesome experience with your peers.
This time around, I walked down the aisle to my seat with my large-sized popcorn. Yet, with no external grubby hands — besides mine — contaminating my popcorn, and being surrounded by strangers which I will find too awkward to talk to.
Did it feel weird?
Heck yea.
Was it worth it though?
You bet.
Oh, that’s not all.
Afterward, I went out to eat at a restaurant alone. I bought my steamy, hot bowl of yakitori don and sat at a corner of the restaurant — with every customer within my sight. Seating at a vantage point allowed me to observe people and eavesdrop on their conversations.
Amidst the cacophony of noises, I managed to decipher the following observations:
Teenagers catch up with one another after school.