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How To Be Alone

Name: How To Be Alone
Description: An animated short film of Tanya Davis's spoken-word poem 'How To Be Alone', illustrated by Andrea Dorfman. It gently argues that being alone can be embraced and enjoyed.

Andrea Dorfman

Other

YouTube

6 HN users recommended this video5 months2010–2026 score 5

Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN commenters point lonely people to it as a moving, comforting piece of art about getting comfortable with solitude.

An animated short film of Tanya Davis's spoken-word poem 'How To Be Alone', illustrated by Andrea Dorfman. It gently argues that being alone can be embraced and enjoyed.

“I think it nicely captures the sentiment of doing things alone.” (HN, 2015)

6 recommendations · Other

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6 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@fleitz Sep 2010 Recommends

on HN thread How Loneliness is Contagious

I've often been alone but never felt lonely, I guess this video kind of sums up my thoughts. "How to be alone" [this video]

Sums up the commenter's view on being alone.

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@paganel Jun 2013 Recommends

on HN thread Only the Lonely

Maybe lots of people already know about it, but I'll just copy-paste this in here: [this video] It's not an anti-dote (to loneliness and everything), it just genuinely helped me from time to time and I hope it will also help others.

Helped the commenter through loneliness.

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@barbs May 2015 Recommends

on HN thread Start doing more things alone

This video did the rounds a few years ago, and I think it nicely captures the sentiment of doing things alone. [this video]

Captures the sentiment of doing things alone.

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@ptrklly Mar 2022 Recommends

on HN thread Ask HN: I'm So Lonely

I'm sorry you feel this way! I've felt very lonely in the past and it was among my hardest times--though I'm sure my version of it was different and doesn't have specific applicability, just figured I'd share. You asked on "tips for giving yourself attention". Can you elaborate on what you mean by that? Are there examples you could give us of what that is like, to help us think of other ideas? One piece of art that I loved that is about this topic is this: [this video] . Like most art it doesn't really answer your question directly with concrete suggestions, but maybe it will be worth watching anyway.

Art about loneliness, worth watching.

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@idealboy Mar 2026 Recommends

on HN thread Ask HN: How to Be Alone?

Most responses are about how not to be alone. Your question reminded me of an old YouTube video I found helpful called how to be alone: [this video]

Helpful for learning to be alone.

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@forrestpitz Mar 2026 Recommends

on HN thread Ask HN: How to Be Alone?

Maybe not specific advice for your situation but I've always found this poem moving and valuable when it comes to building comfort in being alone. I hope it helps you too [this video]

Moving poem about comfort in being alone.

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