In a world where we’re constantly surrounded by connections—whether through social media, friendships, or family—it’s easy to fall into the trap of relying on others. It’s only natural for us as humans to lean on people for support, advice, and reassurance, and sometimes, we don’t even realize how much we depend on them to navigate our lives. For the longest time, I was one of those people. I constantly waited for those around me and depended too much on them to the point where I didn’t feel like myself anymore.
It wasn’t until I found myself in constant scenarios where I missed so many opportunities that came my way—like going to the movies by myself or going out and exploring the city whenever I had the chance—that I realized I had to make a choice: either wait for someone to step in, or do it on my own. At first, the thought of doing things alone felt scary. I was so used to patiently waiting for my friends to say “yes” that I was distracted from the fact that I could just take the opportunity on my own. It seemed as if my plans would fall through because my friends were either busy, hesitant, or just not as enthusiastic as I was about doing certain things. This discouraged me from going and forced me to push aside these plans and wait for “the right time” just so I wouldn’t be on my own.
Eventually, I noticed these feelings were keeping me from doing the things I really wanted to do. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that relying on others wasn’t always the best approach. Not only did it leave me feeling uncertain, but it also meant that I wasn’t truly trusting myself. I had the full capability and means to explore new things and embrace these opportunities on my own.
I remember the first big opportunity I took on my own was getting involved in organizations that sparked my own interests, not my friends’. I was scared to take such big steps without my friends, but something in me told me to take the opportunity and not pass it up. Not only did joining these organizations push me out of my comfort zone, but it also brought so much unexpected growth and helped me gain the power of independence.
Once I embraced doing things on my own, I was able to learn a whole new level of freedom where I could truly be myself. One of the greatest realizations was that I didn’t have to limit my life to the interests or availability of others. I became more open to trying things simply because they appealed to me, rather than needing confirmation from my friends. And I started to realize that waiting on others had been keeping me from discovering parts of myself that I hadn’t yet explored.
Overall, I think there’s still so much growth and learning I have to do, but as new experiences and opportunities come my way, I believe I am finally able to live life on my own terms. I’ve learned that it’s okay to carve your own path in life and not rely on someone else’s. Learning to stop waiting for others has helped me reflect on the person I want to be and has allowed me to approach opportunities with excitement rather than hesitation. I now know that if something sparks my interest, I have the freedom to go after it, regardless of who is or isn’t by my side, because I know that I am fully capable of creating my own happiness.
There’s a world filled with exciting opportunities and experiences out there, and learning how to take these chances without waiting on anyone else has given me a greater sense of purpose. I’ve realized that even if I’m alone, I’m not lonely, because I’ve found joy and excitement in experiencing things on my own.