I am trying to push my boundaries. I am at a point in my recovery where I have accepted that I may always be alone and so that is why I went out on my own. There may not always be someone there to accompany me. But I realise I need to become even more brave in order to handle some of the uncomfortable realities of being a single woman in the world.

James, I understand how you feel. You are still grieving deeply over your lost love and yes, the creative juices definitely dry up when we are suffering depression. Perhaps you could turn your hand to a different artistic pursuit while you are recovering. Find something you’ve never tried before or have always wanted to try, don’t expect much of yourself and see what happens.

I think I want to find an artistic pursuit that I can just ‘lose myself’ in.

I think what’s what we all need when we suffer from the horrible pain of heartbreak. And I know that drugs and alcohol only make things worse — so I must find a hobby.

Best wishes to all of us who are struggling. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and congratulate yourself on making it through another day.

surely your friends could make the effort to spend some time at the karaoke to help you move on, and older guys
like to go out as well they have feelings too.! but I agree its not right that woman can,t go out to a bar without
being deemed as a target!!

Nowadays the only creative/artistic activity that gives me satisfaction is singing. I enjoy singing karaoke. Only trouble is, when I finally (nine months after the breakup) found the courage and energy to take myself out singing (none of my girlfriends are into karaoke), I was targeted by lonely older men wanting to ‘hook up’. Their obvious advances (one of the men actually pointed and stared at me for the entire time I was there and then, when I had to walk past him to find the exit door he actually grabbed my hand and kissed it. Yuk! Slimey!)took much of the joy away from my brave act to go out alone.

I just wanted to do something I love. I didn’t want to be bothered with ‘Lonely Lotharios’ but the fact that a woman can’t seem to go out on her own without these people imposing themselves upon her has meant that I haven’t been able to find the courage to go out and do the thing that I enjoy (sing) since that night over a month ago.

Maybe I will try my hand at painting until I become more confident and can handle the attentions of men I don’t find myself attracted to.