a thing that is extremely toxic and socially harmful in my opinion other than “the American dream” is the idea that you always need to have a partner to do things you like. that an individual person may not indulge in their personal hobbies or pursuits in public without someone to accompany them. this is such bullshit. and unfair to you, as a person. go eat in a restaurant alone. go hiking alone. go watch a concert alone. you don’t need to share everything with someone else. you don’t owe anyone else your own moments of solitary happiness. just enjoying those moments is a thing to treasure by itself.