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Would you rather spend time alone reading, or immerse yourself in a crowd at a party?   Though my gig is public relations, and I've had to make nice for years at corporate events and affairs (and I'm pretty good at it), I've begun to realize that my most fun activity is simply being by myself to think, or dream, or just, well, cogitate (look it up, millennials!). Now a new study says social withdrawal is not necessarily a bad thing.  According to newswise.com, though s pending too much time alone can be unhealthy and there is growing evidence that the psychosocial effects of too much solitude can last a lifetime,  newly published research by a University at Buffalo (UB) psychologist suggests that not all forms of social withdrawal are detrimental.  In fact, the research findings suggest that one form of social withdrawal, referred to as unsociability, is not only unrelated to negative outcomes, but linked positively to creativity, the web site reports. “Motivatio

Maybe it comes from having to pretty much fend for myself in childhood, then choosing to live by myself once I was out of the house.  But I've always known that being alone is a good thing. Now a new survey agrees. "C onsumers who forego hedonic activities alone are missing out on opportunities for rewarding experiences," esearchers wrote, according to Science Of Us, as presented at cnn.com. There's a big difference, of course, between aloneness and loneliness.   But I'm sure that's why I was drawn to the man who became my husband. We both needed alone time.  That's also the reason why, at times, we've had problems with our marriage.  And unfortunately, it seems we've passed it on to our son, who is a solitary soul, too. Alone time, to me, means being free to do what I want, without anyone else around.  I used to be afraid to be alone with my thoughts when I was younger -- they were primarily all about how I didn't measure up, in one w

Does Facebook make you lonely?  For me, it does when I see all the parties I'm not invited to.  But beyond that, a new study has found that only the lonely use it the most. Not so surprising, but, according to newswise.com, a new study has found that, though social media was supposedly developed to bring people closer together, it may just be the people who are the most distanced from others who are drawn to it. There is a relationship between Facebook use and loneliness. The researchers concluded that relationship exists because the feeling of loneliness brings its users to Facebook, rather than because Facebook makes people lonely. The researchers chose to focus on Facebook because it is by far the most popular online social media site, with people using it to share personal information, meet people and develop friendships, according to the study. The use of Facebook – at home and at work – accounts for 54 percent of users’ time online globally and 62 percent of t

Phew.  I just found out I don't have to worry that my son will turn out to be a loser. That's what people have pretty much always said about kids who have no siblings .  For many reasons including age, financial considerations and a slight case of breast cancer when he was 3, Phillip has wound up with no brother or sister (I have one of each, neither of whom I speak to). I remember a friend, when our boys were toddlers, worrying that her son would be damaged for life without a sibling (she and her husband planned to stop at one).  She even bought books about only children and the harm life held out for them. Then she got pregnant again, and all her worries went away.  Except, now they were mine. I've felt guilty for not being able to gift Phillip with siblings.  Growing up, yes, we fought in my house, but it was fun (most of the time) having a brother, and sometimes, even a sister (she was seven years younger so we didn't spend much time together). Sadly now,