Talks to Watch

How To Be Alone

10.1M views · Jul 28, 2010 · 4:35 · 6 HN recommenders · 6 mentions · discussed 2010–2026

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.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN commenters point lonely people to it as a moving, comforting piece of art about getting comfortable with solitude.

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

What Hacker News said 6

RecommendsfleitzSep 2010

“I guess this video kind of sums up my thoughts.”

Sums up the commenter's view on being alone.

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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

in “How Loneliness is Contagious” · view on HN
RecommendspaganelJun 2013

“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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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.

RecommendsbarbsMay 2015

“I think it nicely captures the sentiment of doing things alone.”

Captures the sentiment of doing things alone.

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

in “Start doing more things alone” · view on HN
RecommendsptrkllyMar 2022

“One piece of art that I loved that is about this topic is this”

Art about loneliness, worth watching.

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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.

RecommendsidealboyMar 2026

“an old YouTube video I found helpful called how to be alone”

Helpful for learning to be alone.

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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

RecommendsforrestpitzMar 2026

“I've always found this poem moving and valuable when it comes to building comfort in being alone.”

Moving poem about comfort in being alone.

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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