In university, a place with so many people, societies, clubs and different environments, it’s easy to feel lonely. I think this comes from a place where people put more pressure on themselves to feel more presentable, but that in turn makes your interactions feel mechanical.
The rise of social media does not make this easier in any way. It brings us into this comparison game where we internally try to match our “standards” to others’ curated lives.
Movies can comfort us by providing us a sense of escapism. For those 2 to 3 hours, we forget whatever is going on in our lives and deeply immerse ourselves in another reality. Movies speak to everyone.
Sometimes movies can also ground you in reality, allowing you to form insights on your own life that you wouldn’t have otherwise gotten. We tend to be biased when we look at our own lives, but when we view the protagonist having a similar predicament, certain things click.
This doesn’t even have to be a movie you watched once. You can notice different thoughts that crop up each time you watch the same movie.
The other day I rewatched Little Women (2019) and noticed how relatable her desperately ambitious nature is, how fiercely she wants to create her own identity no matter what sacrifices it takes.
Because she wants different things in her life compared to others, she tends to feel a bit lonely at times, no matter how many people are around her. You must remember that alone and lonely are two different things. One can be surrounded by many but still be lonely, whereas being alone is being content by yourself.
That doesn’t even have to be a bad thing; it also means she is free to create and be whoever she wants to be. Sometimes you can know things on paper but don’t truly acknowledge what it means until you see it from a third person perspective.
This movie made me realise that the number of people around you truly doesn’t matter, but the quality of people does. If you are surrounded by the right people, there is no stopping you. You may have to be patient, but if you are and you put yourself out there every time, even if you are a bit scared, you will eventually find your crowd.
In the meantime, you can take the time to explore your own interests. If you are reading this, I assume you like movies and TV shows!
This year I tried something I had never done before: I went on a solo date to the cinema, twice! And I found the experience to be totally different and freeing in the best possible way. I went to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day after a whole day of working hard. Strangers surrounded me, but I did not feel lonely or alone at all.
I was more grounded in the moment, immersed in the novelty and more observant of what was happening around me. You realise it’s those brief moments of interaction with the lady at Baskin-Robbins or the girl with her grandma, watching a Marvel movie for the first time, that make you smile.
If you can’t get yourselves to go to the cinema alone just yet, that’s totally fine. Try and make a routine experience out of watching movies by yourself though! Close the curtains, put on fairy lights, grab a warm cup of tea, wrap yourself in a blanket and press play. Happy Watching!
Image credit: Unsplash
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