Being single: from ultimate freedom to sometimes lonely

A special project: Solo. A photo project by photographer Mascha Jansen, capturing how singles see their lives. Last month, Trouw featured the stories of three of these singles, following Jansen’s project. They share their perspective on life without a partner, in which relationships actually have an important place.

Being single: differences

Some consciously choose to be single, others to a lesser degree. And whether or not someone chooses to live without a partner, there is always the tension between ultimate freedom and also wanting to be connected. Being independent, but also the desire to go through life with someone. The interviews also show the great value of friendships and other relationships. And the rock-hard downside of being “single” in corona time. A tough time for singles, perhaps tougher than for people who were not home alone. The lack of a partner appears to be mostly in everyday things. Coming home and being able to tell your story about the day, doing fun things together.

Share your thoughts

It can be nice to share the questions you are walking around with as a single person. Questions in relation to yourself, or perhaps in relation to your ex-partner. What makes it a tricky subject? And how does this affect your family of origin? Often answering these questions revolves around your relationship to yourself. Perhaps you experience the fear of bonding, or losing. Where did that come from? It can make essential contact with others difficult and create a feeling of loneliness.

Do you have these kinds of questions? Dare to ask them to us. Mascha Jansen’s book will be released during the year. You can see the photo exhibition from January 2023 at De Hallen in Amsterdam.

More articles