Have you ever found yourself saying no to plans, opting for a night in, or simply preferring your own company more often? You are not alone in that feeling. A quiet change is happening across the country, where more and more people are choosing solitude, sometimes even during holidays traditionally spent with others.

While a little alone time can be good for recharging, this growing trend is more than just a preference. It points to a deeper shift in how we connect, or rather, how we are choosing not to. This choice has hidden costs we rarely talk about, impacts that reach far beyond just one person.