My name is Kris Fazekas. I’m a 45 year old male. I grew up in Rocky River Ohio but at the age of 14 my father started taking me on the road with him to help fix furnaces used to melt steel.
In 1999 my father died of a massive heart [attack]. I was 24 at the time and inherited his company. During the years of 2000-2009 I operated the company and made 200-300K a year but started drinking and gambling in 2010. By 2014 I was flat broke and homeless living in Denver Colorado. In Aug 2014 I got sober and returned to Akron. I’m now working at Goodyear World HQ as an election in Akron, OH.
I prefer living alone. I enjoy the freedom of being able to do what I want whenever I wasn’t inside my spot specially sleeping alone because all the women I have ever dated tend to either want me to cuddle them or want to sleep on top of me and I don’t find either or those options appealing.
Normally I enjoy it [living alone]. But sometimes during the holidays I get sad. I look at family’s that live in nice houses and have lots of xmas decorations. It looks pretty with the snow and everything. I know I could have lived a life style like that but instead I chose to drink and gamble the third decade of my life away.
Well the biggest change is that I was laid off from 3-22 - 5-14.
Well not so much struggling as much as I spent a bit of time thinking how thankful I am that I’m sober. Back when I drank I was drinking at least 1 liter of 80 proof vodka a day! and that’s while I was working. I can’t image how much I would have drank if given 45 days off with pay. This I’m sure of though would have been ill and hungover the whole time. I maybe would have got a due or arrested for one reason or another. And once it was time to go back to work I’d have been in trouble.
I had many nightmares during the shutdown that I was drinking again. Some were so real that a few times I woke up and was so fearful of ever having to live like that again that I prayed to God that he would keep me sober.
Well to be honest I made pretty [much] the same amount of money as when I was working so financially the pandemic did not affect me. The biggest affect of being laid off is that as an addict it’s very important that I have a sense of purpose and structure during my day which normally is provided by work. Since i don’t have work I spent a lot time helping other with projects around their houses.
Ok so to be clear I was never worried about getting covid 19. Back when I was in active addiction I had been in some pretty sticky situations. So getting a virus that less than .1% of people in my age bracket die from just doesn’t affect me. What would bother me to no end is that if I lived with someone who did fear covid 19 and that person pestered me a lot about wearing a mask or staying inside. That would drive me crazy!!!
Well as I mentioned earlier I’ve been helping out a lot of friends. Here is an incomplete list of things I got done during my layoff: wired a friends basement and garage, installed dead bolts on a friends doors and put bars on her basement windows, installed new light fixtures in two different friends houses, helped a friend clean her gutters and fixed her aluminum siding that had been damaged. I also helped out my landlord and mother with some projects. It’s important to note that I did not accept payment for any of these jobs. In fact most of these tasks costs me money because I picked up the price of the materials. As a Christian it’s important to me to give to others who are in need of my help. Most of my friends do no make nearly as much as I do. So to me it’s a great blessing to be able to assist them.
My name is Dawson Steeber. I’m 48 and I guess I’m mostly from Cleveland. We moved around A LOT so…My job history looks like a 10 year-old’s Christmas list, but presently I’m self-employed. When I’m not working I like to l play and listen to music, paint, write, read (lots of reading). As for living alone, I do it by choice. Ever since I was a kid I always wanted to be alone. That’s not to say I didn’t want to hang out with friends and family or play sports or just be generally social, I just mean I’ve always liked the idea of being alone…not lonely…alone. There’s an important difference between the two. For instance, ever since I was a kid I always wanted to be a train conductor or a lighthouse attendant or a hobo or cowboy. I love my privacy. I need it. Although, too much alone time isn’t always good. I can be my own worst enemy if left alone for too long. This lockdown hasn’t really affected me much aside from sporadic work resulting in sporadic pay and the inability to be social when I need to get away from myself. Living alone during the pandemic has made it much easier to maintain social distance. I’ve been practicing that for years anyway, so not much has changed. Now I get a lot more reading done and have started really getting into painting. But it’s also been a difficult time in some regards. The inability to get out and be social and having that time to get out of my head has been a little rough on an already difficult struggle with personal demons. Having much more time to brood hasn’t been helpful in keeping certain proclivities at bay. That said, at the same time this lockdown has given me the time and quietude to face all of dark stuff and the time to get creative in finding new ways to cope with it all. I like to think I’m always learning new things about myself and what kind of person I’m trying to become, but the pandemic and the subsequent shut-in has been more than conducive for thorough self-examination and discovery, as tacky as that may sound.
My name is Jamal Lawson and I am 26 years old. I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I moved to Akron, OH in March of 2018 to work for the University of Akron. I love to play pickup basketball, concert photography, drinking sour beer, interviewing people, and serving as a mentor to students. I work full-time for the University of Akron as a Coordinator and I also run a media company called, The Jam Company.
Currently, my identity is tied into being a content creator and higher education professional.
Why do you live alone?
I live alone because I am relatively new to the Akron community.
How do you feel about living alone?
I feel like I do not have anyone to bond with over this experience and during this time. This is the first time in this phase of my life that I have truly lived alone. I have always lived with other people throughout my life. I grew up with 4 other siblings and I had roommates throughout undergraduate and graduate school. I have always had some sort of brotherhood or familial aspect in my life and not is no longer present. This is new territory for me. New state. No friends. No family. Just me.
How has this pandemic affected your life?
During my first year in Akron, I felt really isolated. However, I decided to use my passion for the arts and music as an excuse to meet new people. I needed to create an internal narrative to not feel sorry for myself and that I cannot meet new people if I stayed inside all day. Since the pandemic, I feel like this a repeat of my first year being here, but now I am obligated to stay inside. The only source of meeting new people that I was accustomed to were at music venues, art studios, and bars. Now that is no longer the case. However, I can luckily, and ironically, say that I am glad that I experienced isolation because I have already developed healthy ways to cope with this situation.
How have you had to adapt?
Luckily, I am still able to work from home for the University.
For my business, I can no longer attend concerts. So, I cannot do much about that, but I do check out some artists’ concerts that are live streamed to get that fix. When I do decide to interview someone, then it is over a video conference call.
I exercise from home now or go for runs, which does help me financially from not paying for a gym membership.
If I find myself needing someone to talk to, then I just FaceTime, call, or text some of my friends or family. From a daily activity standpoint, I did not find it hard to adapt being in quarantine.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-covid and during covid- if so, what?
Well, one advantage is that I do not have to be a nuisance to anyone that lives with me or vice-versa (i.e. play music or movies at an obnoxiously loud volume). I also do not have to worry about getting a roommate/family member sick if I decide to go out to the grocery store or whatever situation that puts me in a public setting. The disadvantage is that I cannot go out to a bar, concert, etc. to meet people or hangout with friends. The only difference that I have noticed is that I have definitely increased the frequency of washing my hands whenever I touch something.
How have you been spending your time during covid?
I have been catching up on movies and tv shows that I have been meaning to watch. I am creating content for my media company. I have also been going on walks/runs and re-learning Spanish.
What have you been struggling with during this time?
I have been working on myself emotionally and mentally. I have been thinking about past relationships (both platonic and romantic) that I have neglected and never fully cultivated. I think about how my actions put up barriers, not allowing myself to fully be open with others. I am trying to think about how to change my behavior and correct past decisions to create better relationships in the future. I think that me being alone is related to how I have been living and this is not the life that I want to live. I am not one of those people that think that living alone is the best or that I hate living with other people. I think that I might have been suckered into thinking that way for a while, but this is not a value I grew up with. I am coming to learn that having a shared experience or memories is what developing a proper relationship is all about, especially one that could last a lifetime. In the context of living a pandemic, I will not have anyone to reminisce with about this historic time in the future. I will have to say that I was alone during that time the entire world was in quarantine.
What good has come out of this time for you?
I have been learning another language and learning new skills in the Adobe Creative Suite, so I can say that I am expanding my knowledge. I also find it good that I am being introspective about my habits and trying to be a better friend.
Have you learned anything about yourself? If so, what?
On the bright side, I have been saving a lot of money by not going out. I definitely think that I will keep this up after the quarantine is over. My goal is to pay off my student loan debt by May 2021.
On a deeper note, I do think that we underestimate the importance of social congregation and the mental separation we create when being in a different, physical space. It is under appreciated that humans need to be in different physical space when completing tasks or socializing because it puts us in a different mindset. With us adjusting to work from home, workout from home, socializing over the internet, and/or taking care of family from home, the intersectionality of these routines can be hard for most to keep separated. Most were accustomed to being able to go into a separate space for work, the gym, going to a get drinks at a bar with friends, or picking up children from school or daycare. Now all those things happen in one space now. I do not really know what I am trying to say, but I think it is interesting how we move about in life as humans.
My name is Olivia, I’m a 26 year old musician from the Akron area. I currently live in Highland Square. I work in sales to pay bills.
I live alone because it’s much more peaceful. I think I can be perceived as an extrovert because of my personality but there really is nothing I value more than my time alone. I love living alone and this has not changed that view, if anything it’s strengthened it.
It’s hard to say how this pandemic has affected my life. I am very lucky to not know anyone personally who has had it. There are the obvious ways that it has affected me like I can’t go to the gym, or go out, or do my grocery shopping after work due to restricted hours. I haven’t really had an issue with any of the changes. Yes, they may inconvenience me, but they’re keeping me and my loved ones (that includes you) safe.
The biggest thing I have had to adapt to is the mask. It’s really not a huge deal and I don’t mind wearing one, but since I am an essential worker I wear one for 8-10 hours a day at work, and then possibly longer depending on errands I may have to run. I try not to complain because I know I have it easier than some. The fact that I have access to masks is a privilege in itself that not everyone has. I spent about $150 on a whim to purchase masks for my entire family. Anyway, after wearing my mask for 8-10 hours my face has began to chaff underneath. It gets very uncomfortable but it’s necessary. Other than that, I don’t mind staying far away from strangers, I actually like it. I don’t like small talk so it’s great that no one is doing that any more. I don’t like to shake hands so elbow bumps are awesome.
Living alone during this pandemic has been pretty much business as usual. I don’t like having people over and I never have. I sound like a bit of a recluse but my space is sacred and it can be difficult for me to let people in. The biggest change is I ended up adopting a standard poodle mix in the midst of this.
The advantages to living alone during this has been I don’t have to worry too much about putting others at risk. I can limit time with my higher risk family members easily. There are no disadvantages for me, yet.
My job has really handled this great. I work for a telecommunications/media corporation. They offered a total of 4 weeks off for anyone who is considered high risk and it all was paid. Even my commission was subsidized. It was great. I took that time off and ended up having to pick up my brother and move him in with me temporarily due to job uncertainty for him. This was crazy because he lives in Wyoming. I travelled with masks and a weeks worth of food in my trunk, peed outside, sanitized gas pumps, and wore gloves when touching anything. He came to stay with me for about 3 or 4 weeks and has since moved back. His job has worked everything out for them. But it was so nice having him here. It was nice to not be alone. I know I don’t like having people over, but it’s different with my family. I could spend days and days and days in a row with them and not get sick of it. My family also has lots of children that need help so I have been seeing my family to provide childcare for our essential workers in our family. My 7 year old niece and I have started cooking lessons during the quarantine and I could cry just thinking about how sweet it is. She’s got a great secret ingredient for French toast.
I have been struggling the most with fear. Being fearful that I’ll get it, that someone I love will get it, or that I could possibly be spreading it. I’ve almost had to shut down that part of my brain and really bury those feelings because I don’t think I could get through a shift at work if I truly allowed myself to feel the fear/worry that I know I have. I don’t think about it. I don’t listen to the news anymore, I don’t check Facebook and have completely deleted the app. I would say I am also struggling with people who have a blatant disregard and disrespect for everything going on. That stresses me out. So much. Sooooo much. This is going to sound like it’s coming out of left field, but I was in a very bad abusive relationship a few years ago. I’ve worked hard on myself and have worked through a lot of that but boundaries are very important to me and when someone doesn’t respect your boundaries they don’t respect you. When I set a boundary of asking someone to back up or if someone starts saying stupid all of this is, it can be frustrating. I now know that you do not care about my safety and it makes me uncomfortable. Mostly this happens at work with clients. They don’t want to stay 6 ft back, they don’t wear masks, etc.
It can be hard to recognize the good that’s come out of this for me when there is so much bad stuff happening to other people. I like spending time alone. I’ve been able to just chill. Just not do anything for months.
I don’t think I have learned anything new about myself yet.
My name is Elizabeth Tipton. I’m 22 years old and I’ve lived in Akron almost my entire life. I’m set to graduate in August with a degree in Visual Communication Design. For the past few years, my life has also been consumed by yoga - I teach and work at Yoga Squared, which has truly become a second home for me. Teaching and practicing yoga is an integral part of who I am and how I do everything in my life. Photography, design, and music are also important to me. I played the piano for 12 years and recently started picking up guitar.
Why do you live alone?/ How do you feel about living alone?
I absolutely adore living alone. I’m naturally an introverted person, so I recharge through spending time by myself. I feel incredibly grateful to have my own space that I can arrange to function the way I want it to. I moved to Highland Square in 2018 and I’ve lived by myself essentially the entire time. After living with roommates and my family until that point, it’s liberating to live the way I want to without having to explain myself. During the pandemic, I actually moved from the upstairs unit to the downstairs unit in my house, painted the whole place by myself, and, for the first, finally created a space that feels like home.
How has this pandemic affected your life?
The pandemic flipped my life around in so many ways and directions. It’s technically my last semester of school, so shifting to online classes (especially for my art studios) was an interesting experience. The yoga studio I work + teach for had to close its doors momentarily, so we had to completely pivot in the ways that we offered classes to people. Losing human contact was challenging to endure. I strongly value being around others to share connection and quality time, so being isolated for several weeks with minimal contact was not enjoyable.
How have you had to adapt?
I’ve had to shift my mindset in the ways that I can show up for people. A lot of my work and the way I like to teach does involve human interaction, so digging deep and coming back to my “why” has given me an opportunity to reflect on what I’m really here to do. I’ve had to become comfortable with things that normally wouldn’t be my first choice and I’ve had to find acceptance for that. Acknowledging the places I’m finding resistance has been insightful.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-covid and during covid- if so, what?
The biggest advantage of living alone is quite obviously that you can structure your life in exactly the way you want without having to ask for input or consider concern from others. Do I want to keep painting until 2am? Go for it. Additionally, it’s easier to social distance and control who you let into your life when you are the only factor involved. The disadvantages by far outweigh the advantages, though. As I mentioned before, having no human contact for weeks on end is not good for anyone’s well being. Humans need touch, contact, conversation - even if it’s just sitting at a coffee shop absorbing the environment around you. Isolating yourself can be painful. Pre-covid, I honestly didn’t spend a lot of time in my home. I love to get out of the house for a change of environment. Now, I find myself spending a lot (really all) of my time at home. It’s given me a reason to care more about the space I occupy, which actually is a positive aspect of the situation.
How have you been spending your time during covid?
I’ve been spending a lot of time practicing yoga, teaching yoga, and really diving into areas I haven’t gone before. Practicing with teachers from across the country who I normally would never have access to has been a delight because I love being able to tune in to the way other people present information. I’ve also spent a significant amount of time with Yoga Squared’s online studio through recording, editing, and piecing together an online platform. Other than that, it’s been a slow, gentle time with a lot of quiet mornings including coffee, guitar, and a good book on the front porch. Lots of learning and listening.
What have you been struggling with during this time?
Being alone was harder for me than I anticipated. I definitely struggled with the pressure of feeling the need to do all the things I always said I would do and to create all the art I never felt I had time for, but the heaviness of a global pandemic and the suffering of my community weighed on me. I feel like I would go through phases of feeling motivated and optimistic followed by a few days of barely wanting to get out of bed. For a lot of people I feel like levels of depression and anxiety have been heightened across the board and I definitely relate to that. In the past, I’ve isolated myself when I haven’t been in a good place mentally, so being forced into that state of no contact or communication was a little rough. It stirred things up in a way I didn’t want, but as we’ve figured out ways to overcome that barrier things have gotten a little better.
What good has come out of this time for you?
This time has really forced me to look at my habits and my consumption. When you’re alone, you’re truly doing things just for yourself. It’s given me a chance to assess how I want to show up as a person just for me.
Have you learned anything about yourself? If so, what?
I’ve learned that human connection is a much more integral part of my life than I ever thought before. I crave human contact and being deprived of that hit me in a way I couldn’t have predicted. I’ve learned the importance of acceptance and being able to think creatively within my circumstances. I’ve learned that I need to hold myself accountable for what I know I need to do in order to be the highest version of myself.
I’m Brittany Nader. I own a home in Akron’s historic Goodyear Heights neighborhood. The houses are quirky and have side porches. My great-grandfather worked for Goodyear’s aircraft division way, way back, so the Rubber City—this neighborhood, specifically—runs deep within my DNA. I was raised by a single mom and I don’t have any siblings. I grew up in Green, which is a quiet Akron suburb full of developments, car dealerships and allotments. Most of the plazas that exist there now were farmland when I lived there as a child. I wanted to move far, far away from that place, but something just brought me back to the Akron area after college. I’m pushing 30 and finally almost feel like a proper grown up, despite being whiny and needing help getting things down from high shelves.
I love to take long walks, drink cheap beer on the porch, cook vegan meals, do crossword puzzles, dig around in my backyard, play with my animals, listen to music and make bad jokes. All my friends are creative, musical and hilarious, and I love talking to them for hours and hours.
I studied journalism and work as the Shuffle Producer for WKSU, where we spotlight local music from Northeast Ohio. I also work in downtown Akron at Drips as a Content Specialist where I write scripts for clients. I’ve also freelanced for The Devil Strip and Cleveland.com. I’ll write for any local publication if invited to do so. It makes me feel part of this wonderful local community.
Why do you live alone?
The short answer: I’m an only child and I don’t like to share. The long answer: I’ve always wanted to have my own space that I can decorate how I want and feel totally free in. I’ve lived with my mom, my grandparents, roommates and significant others at various points in my life, but living alone just feels right to me. I’m a bit of a control freak. Owning my own property also makes me feel like an adult.
How do you feel about living alone?
For the most part, I enjoy it. It’s nice to retreat to my own private space after a long day or night out. It can definitely be lonely at times (this is why I have three very clingy pets). Owning a home presents its own sets of challenges, but I love learning new skills and solving problems—being the sole owner of a century home definitely requires this.
How has this pandemic affected your life?
It’s been hard. I’m an anxious person, so when news of the coronavirus first started spreading, the uncertainty was driving me crazy. I felt like the world was ending. Once the stay-at-home order was enacted, I felt this weird sense of peace. I think it was like anti-FOMO. Now that the weather is nicer, I’m itching to get out and sit on a patio with friends shooting the breeze over a few drinks and tater tots. I’ve gotten a lot of projects done at home, and I’ve reconnected with friends and family over many, many FaceTime calls. That’s brought me some solace and sense of togetherness… though I am still feeling quite unraveled much of the time.
How have you had to adapt?
I’ve been working from home full time, which I am comfortable with. I do miss getting a Wednesday after-work cocktail at High Street Hop House with my coworkers, though. My boyfriend is an essential worker and has had a crazy schedule during this time, so I’ve had to adjust to not seeing him as much. I miss my friends. I miss wandering into a random little restaurant, shop or bar I’ve never been to before just to see what it’s all about. I miss just going on those impulsive, serendipitous adventures that make life feel so magical and create lasting memories. I bought a lot of concert tickets for this summer, all for shows that have now been canceled or postponed. I’ve been trying to come up with creative new things to do instead, but it all still feels a little deflating.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-covid and during covid- if so, what?
The advantages have been sleeping in an extra hour and not having a morning commute. I’ve also been appreciating more things about the life and environment I’ve put together for myself. I’ve been walking my dog more.
The disadvantages have become more consuming lately. I’ve always been a bit of an introverted homebody, but spring and summer is when I start to come out of my shell and go to all kinds of local events and make new friends. I doubt much of that will happen this year, and I worry that I’ll retreat so much inside my own head that I will drive myself crazy the longer this goes on. I’ll probably end up adopting more cats and live in true spinster fashion. If my house starts looking like a scene out of “Grey Gardens,” someone please send help.
How have you been spending your time during covid?
I’ve been cooking a lot, listening to a LOT of podcasts, having video calls with friends and family, sitting on the porch or out by a fire with my boyfriend and tinkering around the house. I’ve also been busier than ever with work, so I maybe have a little less downtime than some, all things considered.
What have you been struggling with during this time?
For a control freak like me, feeling out of control amidst all of this uncertainty has made me anxious and tired. The longer I sit at home alone, the more I get in my own head. I worry about the world, the general election, my loved ones, my pets, my favorite local businesses, myself. I feel like life will never go back to the way it was. It also sucks to have all the plans you were looking forward to get cancelled. On the other hand, I try to remind myself every day how lucky I am to be healthy, employed, safe, loved and (mostly) stable.
What good has come out of this time for you?
I’ve been really productive. I’ve had a little more time to take a breath and get my life in order. I appreciate what I have more. I’m bonding more with my pets.
Have you learned anything about yourself? If so, what?
I’ve learned that, deep down, I am more social and outgoing than I usually think I am when I compare myself to others. I’m craving concerts and dinners with my girlfriends and dates with my wonderful boyfriend and outdoor festivals. I’ve realized more that life is full of challenges for everyone, and I can’t take things so personally when we’re all fighting similar battles. I have to be supportive of others the best I can and be open and ask for help when I’m struggling. That’s not always the easiest for me because I’m stubborn and I like to solve problems on my own.
Well, on paper, I’m a 36 year old designer, illustrator and writer living in still Cleveland. For starters, I had to double check that’s how old I am now. Anyway, I do those previously listed skills for a living, and occasionally for satisfaction. Though in full admission, it is fairly rare that those pursuits have dual purpose, which is to say I seldom get paid to do what I enjoy. And really, all those aspects fall under “what I do”… as to who I am? What defines me? What do I love? I suppose that can be found within some of the artwork I produce in the satisfaction category, wherein pieces of my personality or interests creep out — be it the macabre or the occult, nostalgic or vintage designs, or just plain dumb humor. A favorite word to describe myself is cantankerous as it is both fun to say and fitting. There is something apt in the use of the word in that while I am so very irritable much of the time I have a good humor about it? Go figure. So far, the only thing I can say for certain is that I’m just some dude trying to figure “this” all out; a constant dryer cycle of tumbling mistakes and good intentions.
Why do you live alone?
I live alone because I haven’t felt the urge to fully share my home with someone else. I love visitors, I love company and parties — but those are temporary gatherings. Living with someone is a whole other story, ballgame, and obstacle in one. It’s very intimate; to open every aspect of your life up to and for another. I live alone because I don’t wish to sacrifice myself entirely like that again. In time, I hope to feel differently.
How do you feel about living alone?
Living alone offers a sense of order, a sense of grounding. Home becomes “your space” that, ideally, is unfettered by aggressive outside influence. You design and build your surroundings to your tastes, your whims, your comforts. In the immediate (or indefinite) your space serves your needs — no one else’s. It is up to you how and how often you open that space to others. I suppose in a word, living alone provides control. Besides, you can totally poop with the door open.
How has this pandemic affected your life?
I recognize the greater effects of this pandemic. They are boggling to contemplate, and really those outcomes are not specific to me alone.
On a very personal level, the pandemic has drawn a few big highlighted circles around small aspects of my life that — while I never took them for granted — made me consider, almost to a panic, that some of those “little things” actually played a giant role in my life, nay say, mental health.
For instance, going to the gym is a greatly missed ritual. That statement isolated will likely read cheaply, conjuring imagery of bro-fives and pre-workout shake bottles, but in reality, the practiced habit of attending the gym served a number of purposes. Outside of maintaining a healthy exercise regimen, it also provided an hour or two barrier between work and home. 90 minutes to checkout mentally and work physically; to exhaust by choice as opposed to being mentally taxed mandatorily the previous 9 hours of the day. The physical fatigue sets a mental reset for the evening or better still the day head.
So the gym is one aspect for sure. The others call into question general freedoms such as the now inconceivable movie, show, or restaurant visit. Simple or petty as it sounds, I miss going to a restaurant. I love food and discovering/patronizing new restaurants — especially travelling to them. Sadly, the outlook for such plans seems pretty gray. My world will not end if I cannot visit a restaurant, but all the same I do miss it. And yet, even as I type that I think… yeah, my world won’t end, but about the waiter/waitress? The chef? The owner? That restaurant IS their fucking world. And that’s kinda what I mean about the boggling bigger picture. My own dumb microcosm doesn’t necessarily hold a candle to someone else’s troubles.
How have you had to adapt?
Like anything else you just ADAPT which of course is much easier said than done. Try telling some poor bastard with two food service jobs to “adapt” when he hasn’t worked for a month… I’m yelling at me here in this instance. So like… what? can’t go to the gym? There are ways to burn yourself out with exercise that don’t require standing shoulder to shoulder with grunting bros and yoga-pants-clad thicc girls. No restaurants to visit? Cook and experiment at home. Order out, support who’s still open. It’s not ideal, but it’s far from a prison. Last I checked, pandemic or not, sleeping in your own bed while falling asleep to Netflix isn’t something most inmates bitch about.
Again, I’m not trying to disparage anyone who is having a truly difficult time. This whole ordeal has effected everyone on their own personal levels. When I lob such criticisms, I speak to myself and essentially anyone who has the full capacity to bitch NON-STOP online about it. If you can pickup your goddamn iphone to stream your whole life from your “perfectly quirky” digs with your pest and significant other — you’re not struggling that hard. Life is only slightly less story worthy than it was 6 weeks ago.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-covid and during covid- if so, what?
Aside from appreciating those “little things” even more, one odd advantage is that as someone who socially waffles constantly, I haven’t reallllllly had to second guess my plans lately as there have been none. They day rigor is the same, but it has allowed for some additional freedom in the evenings to basically operate as I see fit without much consideration of others. Are you catching the thread that I take other people into account far too often???
But there are other times like missing my sisters birthday, or worse yet, the birth of her daughter, my fifth niece… which make it tough. And irritating. And surreal. Like… Im standing in a yard looking at my niece through a window because of some bug that’s maybe killing a small percentage of the population but might ALSO be highly deadly to many still?
How have you been spending your time during covid?
Despite the pandemic, I haven’t lost my job, so I have actually been busier than usual, albeit working from home. In the evenings when I leave my home office (step out of that room) I force myself to work out in my living, which is awful but I need the expulsion of kinetic stress in some fashion. From there? Maybe read, maybe draw, eat dinner, watch a bit of TV and doze off on the couch. Repeat. Ohhhhhh that action “repeat”…how many times did I lose complete track of what day it was…
I also did a real dumb thing. In the week before the shit hit the fan, I literally rescued a cat off the street, or parking lot, to be exact. Im not a cat guy in the slightest, but the poor bastard had his face split wide open leaking out all manner of god-knows-what. Long story short, a pandemic is evidently a great time to nurse a busted old cat back to health. He lives in my office now.
One thing I have been doing to reestablish some kind of ritual for myself is a weekend morning drive. When the weather was good, I would wake early and bike to get a coffee. I would sit in the (hopefully) rising sun, drink and think. With the gyms closed and spring being a storied illusion in Ohio anymore, I have sought out coffee from one of the few shops still open and have taken to driving all over Cleveland. I simply pick a direction and get lost, drinking and looking at neighborhoods, mulling over ideas, letting thoughts come and go, challenging myself to eventually find my way back via side streets. It’s not the same but a decent meditative substitute.
What have you been struggling with during this time (mentally, emotionally, physically - the deeper and more open with this that you’re willing to go, the more human and relatable to others)?
I would like to fancy myself a fairly durable person when it comes to stress and bullshit. They seem to be my element, however self-evoked they may be within my life. All the same, they are at least familiar. But I have my tipping points that have come at very peculiar moments.
For instance, despite my “suck it up” approach, I have been broken on a few occasions by a bad home workout. Again, I don’t need much in my life to get by, but when I’m tired and annoyed and then pull myself together to workout ANYWAY, then subsequently get hurt because I slip on my carpet or bump into a chair leg because it’s my fucking HOUSE and not a gym designed for activity — I have gotten quite pissed. Or something as seemingly simple as giving a sick, old cat medication has spiraled me out a couple times. Waves of anxiety set in at the daunting task of scruffing and administering medication to an animal Ive had literally no experience with or interest in heretofore. Dumb on paper, but it was what it was. So yeah, I weathered the fear of job loss, potentially ill family members, food scarcity and the missed birth of a new niece — but a pulled muscle or sick cat drove me over the edge. Call them the last straws on a camel’s back.
Oh and there was definitely one bad day a pizza was supposed to save and when it came cold and incorrect, I legit pondered suicide. It was the pathetic equivalent of a kid having dropped a full, untasted ice cream cone onto dogshit.
What good has come out of this time for you?
Overall the little bit of extra time Ive had has allowed me to reflect and do a bit more thinking than Im accustomed to. Admittedly, I’ve been somewhat jealous of friends who have had significantly more time off who seemingly got to pursue areas of interest with great zeal. I don’t bemoan my paycheck of course, but a week or two of forced pause would have allowed me the time to maybe clean my basement out once and for all. Really, I don’t think there were any winners here, really. Not a single friend who was furloughed had one iota of sympathy in my envy of their new free time and hobbies.
Have you learned anything about yourself? If so, what?
Well, I’ve learned that I can deal with scarier situations than I thought I could. I never could have said for certain if I would be the one to keep a cool head during uncertain times. Overall though, I feel as if I have. Maybe I’m fatalistic… or maybe just a little stupid. Who knows. I do know that during this time I’ve tried to be as selfless as possible, and while that behavior is occasionally a detriment during normal times, I have found that for the most part during the pandemic it has proved to be the best course of action. I also learned that hot, greasy pizza is the best remedy for a late-April weekend when it’s still snowing outside for some fucking reason.
My name is Kat Kirby, I’m 28 years old. I’m from Firestone Park, Akron and have lived here most of my life with some stints in Northern California. I’m interested in people, how their brains work, and the human condition. I work in telecommunications.
Why do you live alone?
After my last breakup, something subconscious just decided to not pick up a roommate. I think I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle the emotional and financial repercussions of living by myself.
How do you feel about living alone?
It’s a great opportunity to get to know yourself, and you get to pee with the door open. I can dance crazy when I want to, I get to air-dry after a shower, I get to make and clean up only my own messes, and when I’m quiet, it’s quiet.
How has this pandemic affected your life?
I’ve had to face that meandering around retail stores isn’t “running errands,” it’s just me trying to distract myself with weird busyness. It’s also heightened some brain stuff I thought I’d worked through better, like my germaphobia.
How have you had to adapt?
I prioritize my socializing- obviously this is now with Zoom and phone calls and texts and stuff- but I don’t flake out of hang outs like I normally might. I treat social interaction now almost like a remedy for a serious health concern. I knew right away what isolation can do to someone like me and took action.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-Covid and during Covid- if so, what?
Sometimes I romanticize what sort of life I’d have if I was going through the pandemic with a TV nuclear family- the ideal is that you’d always have people to talk to and eat dinner with and just BE with, but that’s not always the case. Living alone makes me less concerned about cross-contaminating with others and like I was saying before, I kind of just get to do whatever I want in my own home.
How have you been spending your time during Covid?
Zoom calls, phone calls, texts, postcards. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been working this entire time, but when I’m not working I spend time with my dog, hang out with my partner, rollerblade, perfect my cold brew recipe, and working on some comedy writing.
What have you been struggling with during this time?
The funny thing is, is that I spent, like, alllll of my childhood alone. Really alone. And I couldn’t leave the house. So you put this person who went through that BACK into the same scenario but then you give them everything they wanted (money, friends, a car, endless food). So it’s weird. On one hand it’s almost like I was trained for this exact situation so it doesn’t faze me as much, and on the other you come to realize that that little kid didn’t need those resources so much as she needed love and guidance. It’s a kick in the chest when you realize money won’t fix what’s really hurting you.
What good has come out of this time for you?
I’m so focused on myself and my own issues and my own freedoms that it’s made me more of an independent person. It’s amazing.
Have you learned anything about yourself? If so, what?
I can’t heal my problems by berating them out of myself. Pandemic is slow, I can be slower and kinder with myself.
My name is Elizabeth Kulling, I’m 29 years old, and I’m from Columbus, Ohio. I’ve lived in Akron for almost 6 years now, (although it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long) after graduating from Kent State and brief stint in Cleveland.
During the day, I work as E-commerce Analyst for a Housewares company in Solon and on the weekends I bartend out in Kent.
Why do you live alone?
About five years ago my roommate at the time was moved in with her boyfriend, which kind of sparked me to make the jump to live alone.
How do you feel about living alone?
Now? I would tell you it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Initially? I was definitely skeptical. I’m a pretty social person and up until that point, had never lived completely on my own. I was convinced I was going to be totally lonely. Fortunately, that did not end up being the case. I quickly realized all the fun stuff that comes with living alone i.e. not sharing bathrooms, worrying about dirty dishes, or wearing pants. I had to become more proactive about forming friendships, since I was still new-ish to the area and didn’t just have a built-in buddy anymore. At first, that felt a little bit intimidating, but it was also a good comfort zone for me to push myself out of. As I’ve gotten older and life has inevitably gotten more hectic, I’ve come to appreciate having my own space to come home to more and more.
How has this pandemic affected your life?
Mostly, it’s just forced me to slow down and sit still, which isn’t the worst thing, but it often does feel a lot like stagnancy. Working two jobs and having an active social life, I have the tendency to keep a packed schedule and am on the go more often than not. With covid, most of that has come to screeching halt. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to work my day job from home, which has helped maintain a level of normalcy in my day-to-day life, but I’ve been unable to work at the bar or just generally get out of the house and interact with people as much as I’m used to, which can be hard.
How have you had to adapt?
Working from home has been one of the biggest adaptions, but also one of the biggest silver linings during this time. I’ve gotten used to it very quickly. Most of my job can be done remotely with little disruption, so getting a break from my morning makeup application, long commute, and cubicle life in general has definitely made a positive impact on my daily quality of life.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-covid and during covid- if so, what?
Living alone during this time can be a blessing or a curse during this time depending on how you wanna look at it. It’s pretty normal for me to go 2-3 days at a time without any person-to-person interaction now, which can feel a little unsettling. Obviously, video calling and other technology can help mitigate this somewhat, but even still, it’s not exactly comparable to the real the real thing, and it’s hard not to feel isolated/cut off from the world at times. On the flipside, I’ve heard a ton of stories from friends and family about the struggles of shared spaces/close quarters during this time, which sounds like it’s own type of headache that I’ve been lucky to avoid.
How have you been spending your time during covid?
Outside of working, I’ve been able to spend more time just slowing down and taking care of myself consistently, which I often try, but struggle to make room in my schedule for. Being able to get back into a regular workout schedule, taking the time to cook for myself, and getting full 8 hour of sleep every night has definitely helped improve both my mental and physical health.
What have you been struggling with during this time?
I think that one of the biggest things I’ve struggled with has been the feeling that life has sort of just frozen. While having more time at home to myself has been a much-needed palette cleanser in a lot of ways, the lack of excitement/variety (I’m not sure if either of those are exactly the right words?) can be mind-numbing at times. It’s hard for me to stay positive and motivated sometimes, when the days can kind of just seem to drag together and the future is still so ambiguous.
What good has come out of this time for you?
As boring as sounds, the best things that have come out of this situation have just been the simple ones: getting outside more, exploring new interests, exercising regularly, hanging out with my cat all day, cooking, reading, spending more time with my boyfriend…all the little things that seem to just slip through the cracks when life is running normally.
Have you learned anything about yourself? If so, what?
For some reason, this question is the stumper for me. I think I’m still processing a lot of the changes or maybe I’m just too in the thick of the situation to come up with any sweeping statements on what it’s all been about for me yet? I’ll have to get back to you on that one later!
My name is Robert Curtis Cole but most just call me by Robbie or Robbiecole (one of those names I guess) and I am 31. I went to Ellet High School and graduated from the University of Akron. I still plan on going back for my Master’s Degree in Psychology. I was born in Akron, Ohio and have basically just have bounced between living in Cuyahoga Falls for a short time and Akron.
I mostly enjoy just hanging out at home playing video games or finding “new” music to listen to, I’m usually pretty bad with keeping up with music and usually pretty late on some awesome bands. When I’m not doing that I’m usually going off on my own little adventures driving or walking around. I just pretty much go with the flow most of the time and get swept up with whatever I encounter, I meet quite a few interesting people along the way lol. Of course I would be remiss if I didn’t mention hanging out with my two cats Jade and Artemis who seem to love getting all the extra attention recently.
At the moment I am working at the Mustard Seed in Highland Square and I’ve been there for 3 years.
Why do you live alone? How do you feel about living alone?
I guess the big reason I live alone was I needed to find a place pretty quick nearby in Akron that would let me have my two cats and I didn’t really have time to find a roommate who would also be down with it. I also never have really lived alone so I figured it’d be a nice experience since I’m normally doing my own thing anyways.
Living alone certainly has had its ups and downs. It’s put quite a few things into perspective for me really being on my own. I’ve always either lived with friends or lived with my sister so I guess in a sense it is lonely sometimes but it never really gets to me. I think living alone is wonderful and really forces you to get things together because you are on your own and things aren’t going to get done unless you do them yourself.
How has this pandemic affected your life? / How have you had to adapt?
Honestly overall it really hasn’t affected much in my life. I still work and go home I just have to wear a mask at work. I don’t get to see friends and other acquaintances I’ve gotten to know from just being around which has led to some boring repetitive days. The beginning of it was hard for a while having to see a majority of my friends lose their jobs almost instantly, I could only imagine what it was like for them. I even felt a little guilty at first when I still had mine, I’m still incredibly grateful I was able to still be able to work through this.
I really haven’t had to adapt much. Just wearing a mask and not be near people which comes pretty naturally to me anyways lol.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-covid and during covid- if so, what?
There have been some nice things about living alone during all this, not quite sure I’d say advantages other than lowering exposure, but I’d say that there’s a lot of time to really take care of things maybe personally or around the house/apartment that you may have been neglecting. Living alone is pretty calming at times as well. It has been rough sometimes. Sometimes the anxiety builds up and you kind of just have to get through it on your at times, no one’s really there and that’s when the loneliness really hits hard.
There hasn’t really been a big difference in my life as I’ve said before, obviously not going out and grabbing a drink or food with a friend, or making people’s ears bleed with karaoke. Just in my house more getting to know my cats. Fun fact: Artemis plays fetch and Jade’s loyalty goes to that who gives the best head scratches (which is everyone apparently).
How have you been spending your time during covid?
The simple answer is just working, playing videogames, lots of Netflix and YouTube videos, and music. A little bit deeper is really trying to come into my own and figure myself out a bit more, using this time to really figure out what I’m about; what I really like, dislike, enjoy doing, and the person I really want to be and become. You’d think at 31 I’d have some of this figured out but it keeps going.
What have you been struggling with during this time?
I think denial that I’m not struggling emotionally or mentally is what I’m struggling most with. It’s a feeling of powerlessness to do anything significant to try to help or make any situation better, just not for myself but for others as well. It’s difficult to let little bits and pieces out at times in a healthy and productive manner and not be overwhelmed by it all. Etc.
I guess there are a few things I hope people get out of this, myself included.
Learning to let go of harmful behaviors or even the past and being able to move on and actually love yourself and others. Some of us, maybe more, are on our own with so much anxiety and pain with what has happened, is happening, and what will happen. It’s certainly a rather uncertain time but people showing a little more respect, compassion, love, whatever you choose to call it couldn’t possible hurt anything or make it worse. Seeing people’s beliefs, lifestyles, professions being respected more would be such a blessing to see.
This time has taught me a lesson I’ve been reminded of time and time again since I was real young, and it’s the whole “Don’t take anything for granted” line. Sometimes it’s a harsh repeated lesson reminding you that you never know when something is that last time. The last time you hold a pet, the last time you grab a drink with a friend or loved one, or even the final time you’ll ever see that one person again. Moments in life are precious and often unappreciated. It’d be really nice to see people give each other more of a chance after all this is has settled down and for it to evolve into something better. Right and I guess the economy too or something like that.
My name is Chelsea Dodus, I am 23 years old. I’m from Medina, Ohio. Right now I’m living in Highland Square. I love long walks on the beach. Kidding, kind of. I really love to spend time with the people who are important to me, or watching shows that inspire me and make me feel things that I normally wouldn’t allow myself to feel. I love to go on hikes and spend time outside, I love to be around the animals that I’ve taken in as my own little buddies, I love to cook and I love to make art when I’m not tearing myself down, I love to learn how to do new things like makeup and gardening, I just really love learning how to live.
I live alone because I want to be able to do everything I could ever want to do without any outside judgment or pressure. I want to be able to challenge myself and continue to grow into the person who I want to be.
I love living alone. It is something that has made a huge impact on my life. Being alone has given me so much more self confidence (though I have a long way to go.) It is so important to me that I am able to set my own boundaries and express myself in ways that aren’t restrained by anyone else.
While I love living alone and striving to be the person I eventually want to be, the pandemic has hit me pretty hard. I have struggled a lot with mental health issues all throughout my life and everything going on has made it a bit more difficult for me. It took me a good month to get myself to be able to cope with everything. I decided that it would be best to help myself feel like I was in control of my life again by doing little things. I started by cooking often, and taking my dog to the park more, I decided to clean bones that I found at a park (which ended up being an educational and amazing experience), I reached out to my friends that I felt like I had partially isolated myself from, and I started reading here and there, again.
I think that the advantage of being alone throughout everything going on is that I have been able to be in control of who I see and what I do. However, I think the disadvantage is that I have always relied so much on my relationships outside of myself and my family that it has taken a toll on my mental health.
I’ve gotten to spend my time doing what I like, whether that be cooking, or hiking, or taking a walk with my dog. This much has been pretty therapeutic for me.
There are so many things that I’ve struggled with throughout everything going on. I think of everything the number one issue that I have been having a hard time with is body dysmorphia. I’ve started trying not to look at myself so much because I hate what I see. I can’t seem to find anything I really like about my body anymore. As for my depression and anxiety: that has only gotten worse. I seem to question my relationships with my friends and partner much more than I did before. I am much more afraid of everything and everyone. Life hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure.
The good things that I’ve felt are great! Granted, they kind of contradict the bad (I guess that’s how it works sometimes, though.) My friends and family do reach out to me, I’ve learned so much more about the little things that I want to do, and I am working very hard to fight the voices inside of me telling me that I’m not worthy of anything other than being alive.
I’ve learned a lot about me. I think that I am much stronger than I say that I am. I know that everything else I said probably says different, but I have finally started to like little parts of me. I never thought I’d be here. I am really proud of myself for being here. I used to wish I wasn’t, but I’m here. I’m proud of myself for wanting to be here. I love myself sometimes, I think that’s really important. I’m thankful for my friends and family and boyfriend. I’m thankful for the strangers who compliment me and I’m thankful for the people who smile at me or anyone else when they don’t have too. I’m happy to be here now. I think that’s very important to me. I’m glad to be here.
My name is Anna. I’m 24. I live in Canton, Ohio. I know a good pair of pants when I see
them. I am a Media Studies and Photography student at UA. I work as a server at a
winery/restaurant. I love thrifting and putting together a good outfit. I like doing makeup. I will
read just about anything. It’s a fun adventure for me to wander around finding cool architecture
to appreciate. Going out to dance is therapeutic. I’ve always felt like part of my purpose here is
to find beauty in everything--including darkness. That’s why I love making photos.
Why do you live alone?
I signed this lease last summer for my boyfriend and I to live here and move in together
again. He lived out of state at that time, so I moved in before he had planned to. After one
week of living here alone, I finally listened to my internal voice that was screaming at me to call
and break up with him. So, I guess I live alone so that I can continue to hear myself out on
doing what’s best for me.
How do you feel about living alone?
Overall, I enjoy living alone. Having all of the closet space to myself helps me breathe. But on
a deeper level, living alone makes me feel a whirlpool of things. It’s important to me that I find a
good balance of being on my own and feeling lonely. I have to imagine scales so that I don’t
feel weighted by extremes. Focusing on schoolwork while working full time keeps me busy.
Making time to see my friends keeps me sane. And practicing being present makes me happy.
How has this pandemic affected your life?
The pandemic caused my school and work to close. My classes switched to online. I was
able to focus more on my classes since I wasn’t working. It’s hard not being able to go see my
parents. My mom is an in-home healthcare nurse and she is taking great responsibility to make
sure that she doesn’t expose her patients to the virus.
How have you had to adapt?
Before my classes ended, I had to adjust majorly to taking classes online. It takes a lot of
discipline and energy for me to focus on schoolwork in my home because I’m easily distracted
in this environment. It was most beneficial for me to adapt by going to bed and waking up early
so that I could stick to a schedule. I am grateful that I could turn my sunroom into a peaceful
workspace. I’ve found that facing my white wall helps me to not be overstimulated when I’m
trying to focus.
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages have been living alone during a
pandemic? Have you noticed a difference in your life pre-covid and during covid- if so, what?
Living alone during the pandemic has been an advantage for me in the obvious ways
regarding health concerns (for me and others). It’s also a plus in that I can choose when to
consume media about the pandemic. I listened to NPR every morning so that I was aware of
the information being shared about the virus. It was best for my mental health to limit media
consumption so that I wouldn’t overload and panic buy toilet paper or gasoline. I think that
would have been harder to control had I been living with someone else.
How have you been spending your time during covid?
I’ve been reading for pleasure (which I never get to do during the school year). Honestly,
though, once I finished my classes I started hanging out with my friends again at their house.
I’ve also cleaned and organized my apartment at least thirteen times to keep myself busy. I’ve
enjoyed journaling and the overall process of trying to work on myself. My favorite ways that
I’ve spent my time has been by keeping my plants mostly alive and finally making my space
feel like a home for me.
What have you been struggling with during this time?
I’ve been struggling with the internal guilt of seeing other people during this time. I make sure
that I don’t see anyone who might not be able to recover from a covid-19 infection. I justify it
by knowing that I don’t live with anyone else, and knowing that I’m more so putting myself at
risk. However, many people do not agree with me actively seeing my friends--in fact, I have
angered a few people because of it. Knowing this has been difficult as it has caused a battle
within because I see how/why this is selfish. But I’m still going out here.
What good has come out of this time for you?
This time brought about a deeper recognition for me to be grateful for who I am. I have
learned to hang out with the parts of myself that are both good and bad and to accept the fact
that at the end of the day, I’m the one who has to live with myself.
Have you learned anything about yourself? If so, what?
I’ve learned that staying in my apartment for 15 days without seeing anyone can really take a
toll on my overall health. I feel like a husky--like I have a giant ball of energy that sits in my
chest and if I don’t find an outlet for that energy I might destroy things just for fun. I’ve learned
the root of my impulsivity, so now I feel better equipped to channel it by spending time
scrubbing my sink or writing a poem that I’ll never show anybody.
If there’s anything you feel that I didn’t ask but should consider for this project- go ahead and
write it, never know what might come out of it.
