My favorite quote: “I am grateful and humbled to realize that I am not waiting to begin building a whole and faith-filled life until I’m a certain age, or I’m married, or I own a home. Jesus is always ushering me into a fullness of life—right where I am.”
Yes and Amen. He recently reminded me of this as well—that I am not waiting for anything. As a fellow single woman living alone, I loved this read! God bless you 🩷
Marisa! Thank you for reading and letting me know how this resonated with you. It’s good to meet other people thinking through the same things. Solidarity to you and your pursuit of health and wholeness in your context!
Woah! I’m literally about to live alone for the first time as of this weekend! Just got my own apt! This was a great read. Thank you for writing it, Grace! 😊
Thank you so much for reading and your comment Mariah—I love that this was so well timed with your move! Best wishes in settling into your new space; I hope it'll be a sweet spot for you in your next season of life.
I resonate with what you’ve shared! I live a very self-sufficient single life and recently left a church community that was like a family to me for many years. It’s easy for me to feel a bit myopic and self-absorbed, but I’m trying to figure out new rhythms for health, community, and service. Thanks for sharing some of your rhythms :)
Elizabeth, I’m so glad you’ve found this post to be helpful as you start this chapter of your life. I hope you find joy in the process of settling into your new rhythms!
Something I value in a single life is having friends who can fill the space between ‘I’m at home alone’ and ‘I’m out socialising’. This looks a lot like a friend bringing over their craft and doing it next to me on the couch in silence (yay introverts!) or cooking and eating dinner with me or sleeping over on the weekend and doing normal life things with me. Having 1 or 2 of these friends means that those lonely times are much less frequent ❤️
thank you for writing this! i've never officially lived alone as i always had at least one roommate (and am currently living with a family i know while i wait to get married, which is a perfect example of people stewarding their homes well), but i still appreciated all these practical tips for living well regardless of how many people you share a household with. and i especially appreciate the reminder that we don't need to wait until "the next thing" comes along to live well in the season God has us in right now.
Kati! Thank you so much for reading and this comment. I am so glad you are able to recognize the beauty and goodness even as you wait for your next season of life. Wishing you the best in these final months before your marriage begins!
Wendell is a common sight around these parts! Thank you so much, Zach. I appreciate you engaging with this piece and others in a thoughtful way. Thanks for reading and following along enthusiastically!
And, I'll add as someone 6 years married that all these things are needed just as much in this season. Some things get easier, some more tricky (especially adding children to one's roommates. lol)
I also lived with many roommates in my twenties... and I would have done well to develop more thoughtful practices such as these in during that time, too. So I applaud you for your intentionality.
Haley, thank you for this comment and your thoughts. I’ve often thought/wondered what would be easier and what would be trickier about decision-making and life rhythms if I were to ever get married. It would be a massive change! It’s interesting to know that some of what I said resonated with your same season of life though I don’t a husband/kids. I guess it goes to show that we all can benefit from having discussions about what structures we need around us to continue pursuing health in our own individual lives and in our communal lives. I’m muddling through it, trying to figure it out!
My favorite quote: “I am grateful and humbled to realize that I am not waiting to begin building a whole and faith-filled life until I’m a certain age, or I’m married, or I own a home. Jesus is always ushering me into a fullness of life—right where I am.”
Yes and Amen. He recently reminded me of this as well—that I am not waiting for anything. As a fellow single woman living alone, I loved this read! God bless you 🩷
Marisa! Thank you for reading and letting me know how this resonated with you. It’s good to meet other people thinking through the same things. Solidarity to you and your pursuit of health and wholeness in your context!
Woah! I’m literally about to live alone for the first time as of this weekend! Just got my own apt! This was a great read. Thank you for writing it, Grace! 😊
Thank you so much for reading and your comment Mariah—I love that this was so well timed with your move! Best wishes in settling into your new space; I hope it'll be a sweet spot for you in your next season of life.
Thank you for this! Important reminders 🌸
Thank you for reading, Rose!!
Love this, Grace.
Thank you @Janell Downing! Appreciate you reading and supporting :)
I resonate with what you’ve shared! I live a very self-sufficient single life and recently left a church community that was like a family to me for many years. It’s easy for me to feel a bit myopic and self-absorbed, but I’m trying to figure out new rhythms for health, community, and service. Thanks for sharing some of your rhythms :)
Thanks, Angela! Self-sufficiency can be great until it isn't, right?! I wish you the best as you discern your life rhythms as well.
I've returned to this post a few times recently, as I'm learning to live alone for the first time. Thank you for sharing such practical wisdom!
Elizabeth, I’m so glad you’ve found this post to be helpful as you start this chapter of your life. I hope you find joy in the process of settling into your new rhythms!
Something I value in a single life is having friends who can fill the space between ‘I’m at home alone’ and ‘I’m out socialising’. This looks a lot like a friend bringing over their craft and doing it next to me on the couch in silence (yay introverts!) or cooking and eating dinner with me or sleeping over on the weekend and doing normal life things with me. Having 1 or 2 of these friends means that those lonely times are much less frequent ❤️
That is such a great habit you’ve cultivated!
Beautifully said! I agree on getting a spiritual director - that was a genuine help and companion to me when I lived alone 🫶
Such a helpful and life-giving relationship! I’m glad you can relate.
Love this!! I’ve also adopted rule #1 and think it’s healthy and prudent. ❤️
Thanks for sharing.
Lovely. My own single season is over (for now) it when I did I remember ‘Live Alone and Like It’ by Marjorie Hillis was a tonic to read.
Thank you so much!
thank you for writing this! i've never officially lived alone as i always had at least one roommate (and am currently living with a family i know while i wait to get married, which is a perfect example of people stewarding their homes well), but i still appreciated all these practical tips for living well regardless of how many people you share a household with. and i especially appreciate the reminder that we don't need to wait until "the next thing" comes along to live well in the season God has us in right now.
Kati! Thank you so much for reading and this comment. I am so glad you are able to recognize the beauty and goodness even as you wait for your next season of life. Wishing you the best in these final months before your marriage begins!
Love these practical ideas! I don’t live alone, but I am single, and most of the principles still apply in some way. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Holli! I think practical ideas can be really helpful for me, too, so I'm glad these seemed to be helpful for you.
Wendell Berry sighting…. 😏😏😏
This was wonderful, Grace. I truly appreciate how you’ve been so intentional, recognizing the blessings and temptations of your current stage of life.
I love your perspective and am excited to read more from you!
Wendell is a common sight around these parts! Thank you so much, Zach. I appreciate you engaging with this piece and others in a thoughtful way. Thanks for reading and following along enthusiastically!
So much wisdom here!
And, I'll add as someone 6 years married that all these things are needed just as much in this season. Some things get easier, some more tricky (especially adding children to one's roommates. lol)
I also lived with many roommates in my twenties... and I would have done well to develop more thoughtful practices such as these in during that time, too. So I applaud you for your intentionality.
Haley, thank you for this comment and your thoughts. I’ve often thought/wondered what would be easier and what would be trickier about decision-making and life rhythms if I were to ever get married. It would be a massive change! It’s interesting to know that some of what I said resonated with your same season of life though I don’t a husband/kids. I guess it goes to show that we all can benefit from having discussions about what structures we need around us to continue pursuing health in our own individual lives and in our communal lives. I’m muddling through it, trying to figure it out!