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Connected, but alone?

Apr 09, 2012 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Solitude, technology

A beautiful TED talk and a very quirkyalone message that I have blogged about too. “Technology (social media) provides the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship.” This talk by MIT professor Sherry Turkle is ultimately an argument that we must build the capacity for solitude in order to have real connection in our lives (to listen to each other and not try to control all communication). Her talk reminded me of this blog post “Zeitgeist Alert: The End of Aloneness?” that I wrote in 2009 in response to this essay by William Deresiewicz “The End of Solitude.” Let’s all become more self-aware about how we use technology. And talk about how to do that!

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Alone on the Holidays? Here’s How to Turn Loneliness into Solitude

Apr 08, 2012 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

The Huffington Post Mindful Living editor asked me for advice on what to do if you find yourself alone on the holidays. Here’s what I told her about turning loneliness into solitude. Essentially my advice is that you can turn any holiday into Quirkyalone Day if you set the right intention. Read more here about how.

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A deep conversation about life (and coupling vs. “the tribe”) with Frank Moore

Mar 24, 2012 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Personal Growth, Quirkytogether, Video

There is no complaining in Frank Moore’s world. We are all responsible for creating our own consciousness. That is what makes this rebel “cripple” performance artist, creator, and radical who has had cerebral palsy since birth so compelling—and why I wanted to do this interview. There are many fascinating twists in this conversation, and I recommend you watch the whole two-hour shebang. Your mind will be blown if you give this video your attention.

For me, doing this interview was like going on a trip, with no drugs. The video will challenge your patience as Frank slowly communicates. He “speaks” by using his red headlight on his forehead to point to the colorful keyboard-meets-Ouija board that sits on a tray on his wheelchair. He designed the keyboard with letters and his most commonly used words. He slowly picks out words and letters that Linda, who is sitting next to him on an exercise ball, reads aloud. He uses a tool that emanates from his forehead to paint and type. Frank made that painting that is sitting behind us.

Sasha Cagen (& Michael) – Frank Moore’s Shaman’s Den from Frank Moore on Vimeo.

Here is the backstory behind the interview. The theory is that by pushing ourselves out of comfort zones, we grow. I was afraid to go, and I’m sure this interview will give me inspiration for a long time to come. I hope it does the same for you.

Continue Reading →

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Welcome to the quirkyalone movement newly identified quirkyalones!

Feb 23, 2012 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

Welcome to the quirkyalone movement, all of you who just read about quirkyalone.net in the New York Times’ story on the freedom and perils of living alone. We are glad that you have joined us. Let us know if you have questions. You can meet and greet in the forums, and follow us on Facebook. And be sure to sign up on the mailing list to stay on top of quirkyalone events and other news. The mailing list signup is just to the right under the CNN video.

Remember the quirkyalone movement is a grassroots movement, don’t ask when it is coming to your town, bring it there yourself. :)

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6

One Is the Quirkiest Number

Feb 22, 2012 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

When did the media get so into quirkyness? I thought that was my sole territory. Now the New York Times plays up the quirky habits of solo dwellers in the Home Section. The reporter may be confusing the quirky behavior of living alone with other kinds of issues, like, forgetting to put your clothes on when you leave the apartment. But I do adore being quoted in the New York Times talking about eating “discrete objects” for dinner.

And this piece has brought the quirkyalone movement to many readers who had not yet heard of it, and for that I am glad.

  • Sasha Cagen
  • Deborah Hymes

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    Deborah Hymes

    Website: http://writervixen.com
    Email: Contact Author
    Bio: I'm an occasional contributor to Zeitgeist: Quirkyalone Pop Culture. Zeitgeist explores how pop culture reflects us back to ourselves—in ways funny, interesting, frivolous and profound. I’m a committed quirkyalone and a pop culture addict who should probably be committed. Pop culture is my hometown, the street where I live, the air that I breathe. It’s where new ideas, fascinating people, trends, and innovation, meet the movies I love (new and classic), the TV I watch (from 30 Rock to Weeds), the Internet I haunt (from Perez Hilton to Salon), and the pile of magazines I read regularly (from The Atlantic to Wired to New York magazine). Professionally, I'm a storyteller, media maven and entrepreneur—the owner of WanderNot, Inc., a Bay Area creative communications company. I also write personal essays, feature articles and profiles, as well as the weekly blog Writer Vixen Explains It All. Quirkyalone Status: Currently happily single and happily open to quirkytogetherness.

  • Onely

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    Onely

    Website: http://onely.org
    Email: Contact Author
    Bio: Onely is a blog that deconstructs stereotypes of singlehood. It's for singles who enjoy being single but remain open to a variety of romantic relationships, either for themselves or for others. Onely comprises two people: Lisa and Christina. Christina has an MA in English and an MFA in creative writing, but she still struggles with her participles and a tendency toward semicolon abuse. She has bravely persevered against these obstacles in her work as one-half of the Onely writing team. For most of her thirty-odd years she has been Quirkyalone, but she also has experience as a Quirkytogether, a Lonelyalone, and--most terrifying--a Lonelytogether. Currently she is contentedly single, balancing a left-brained day job that feeds her cat with right-brained writing projects that feed her soul. In Dear Quirkyalone, she hopes to share her lessons learned with other readers who want to understand and embrace Quirkyliving. The secret? Always listen to Lisa. Lisa has an MFA in creative writing and is about halfway through a doctoral program in Rhetoric and Composition. She loves writing about singles issues on Onely because it gives her a break from what she writes in “real life,” and she loves giving advice on QA because – as most academics do – she thinks she’s always right. Lisa owns a dog named Kitty, loves Judith Butler and Michel Foucault, and undertakes long road/camping trips as often as possible. She apologizes in advance for her language taking “academic” (not to be confused with “epic”) proportions, and advises readers first and foremost to always heed Christina’s advice.

  • Elline Lipkin

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    Elline Lipkin

    Website: http://www.korepress.org/bios/lipkin.htm
    Email: Contact Author
    Bio: Elline Lipkin grew up in Miami, FL, and attended Wesleyan University. She received her MFA from Columbia University in 1994 and her Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Houston in 2003. She has worked as an editor in both New York City and in Paris. Her book about Girls' Studies is forthcoming from Seal Press in the fall of 2009. Elline has written about online dating and the mating game for Salon.com. Elline is also a recently married quirkytogether, a fact that she considers "a miracle."