I’ve always found great value in my alone time. To me, spending time alone with my thoughts brings me a certain comfort that I seldom find in the presence of others. I often find this time incredibly rewarding, and it gives me an opportunity to listen to my mind and body in that moment. It gives me space to slow my mind from its usual pace. Spending time with my own self allows me to appreciate my present surroundings, not to dwell on the past or worry about the future. In these moments I may find myself alone, yes. But not necessarily lonely.
The concept of solitude has always weighed a bit heavily on my mind. I used to find myself desperately longing to be this bubbly, outgoing, socialite who flocked between social gatherings with ease. I hadn’t always seen the beauty in being alone, or even how important this time was to my emotional well-being. Now don’t get me wrong, I love being in the company of people who bring me joy! I’ve surrounded myself with a supportive social circle who have undoubtedly changed my life for the better. Being in the presence of my amazing friends and interacting with new people brings me such great happiness! But this happiness doesn’t always need to stem from the presence of others; being alone with myself brings me great joy as well.
There’s a certain perception of solitude that we often equate with loneliness. If a person spends most of their time in their own company, they’re seen as being closed-off, hostile, perhaps a bit unfriendly. If a person is alone, they must be feeling lonely. This way of thinking can be really damaging for a number of reasons. It creates an environment in which we might become dependent on others to fill our days with joy. In viewing alone time as a symbol of sadness and isolation, we’ll soon find that being in our own company simply isn’t enough. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the course of this past year, it’s to cherish my time spent alone. The relationship that I’ve built with myself is one that provides me with love and attention to my own thoughts. There are certainly moments where this sense of solitude isn’t quite what my mind or body needs. In these moments, I find myself gravitating toward the company of those around me. Striking this balance is something that’s taken me time to comprehend. In doing so, I’ve come to see the beauty in being alone, but not lonely.