From January 2013: Barbara Feldon became a role model for women around the world when she played Agent 99 on the long-running, groundbreaking comedy series Get Smart. But while 99 continues to live happily ever after in reruns, Barbara found herself at a crossroads many years ago when her 12-year live-in relationship came to an end, and she found herself faced with the prospect of actually living by herself for the first time in her life. After struggling with the notion at first, Barbara discovered, with the help of some friends, that living alone is just a state of mind — and that no matter what one’s age is, there are many ways to lead a full, happy and enriching life without a permanent housemate or live-in life partner.
Barbara’s book, Living Alone and Loving It: A Guide to Relishing the Solo Life, not only speaks openly about her own experience, but challenges the often negative perceptions society has about the concept of living on one’s own. Statistics show that nearly 50 percent of the world’s population choose to live by themselves — and yet there remains a stigma to living alone that even Barbara had to overcome.
