12.2019 Life Recommendation // Spend Time Alone

After taking a trip to the Mattress Factory by myself a few weeks ago, I thought that I wanted to write about the museum as my monthly recommendation. After all, the Mattress Factory is home to many visually-striking and thought-provoking pieces of contemporary art, from Yayoi Kusama's mod, infinitely mirrored room, to a collaborative work between an Iranian and American artist which replicates the Iranian artist's Tehran apartment unit as an exploration of the concepts of reality and spatial/national boundaries. However, while the museum's contents are indeed fascinating, what I want to recommend even more is to just take some time to do things with, for, and by yourself! I've always felt anxious or embarrassed going places if I didn't have a buddy—but learning how to be alone and do things on my own has been one of my biggest lessons of 2019. So, take yourself on a solo outing—maybe to the movies, or a concert, or a restaurant—go at your own pace, give yourself an opportunity to really get to know yourself, and experience the world on your own terms!

Staff recommendation published in Crafton Public Library's monthly newsletter.