If you and I are on the same side of TikTok, then you’ve probably come across some less-than-cheerful videos about people having a ‘mouse moment’.
So what is a mouse moment?
Essentially, it boils down to feeling dejected when you have to eat a meal alone. A viral video of a sad little mouse eating M&Ms pulled at people’s heartstrings and they connected to the feeling of eating alone whilst staring at everyone mingling and interacting. The mouse, from a video on the mockumentary “Creature Comforts,” is just sadly relatable, and that’s okay.
Generally, nobody wants to be the person sitting alone eating lunch, but everyone undoubtedly experiences it at some point. At university this is especially true. You may only eat alone once, or every day. The lonely feeling may gnaw at your stomach, but being alone is a quintessential experience to have as a young adult. Learning to be okay with being alone will help you in the long run. When you see other people with their friends and family it can be demoralizing, but remember that you don’t see the times when people are alone (keyword: alone). The hungover mornings, bathroom stall cries after failing a test, and commuting to and from work are all lonely moments we experience but don’t talk about.
University is pumped up to be the best years of your life, but nobody talks about how much of it you will spend alone. Walking to school, eating lunch, sitting in class or doing late night studying can all easily be times spent without anyone else. Learning to be alone is learning to be okay with yourself. When you’re alone, you realize who you are and what you’re like when nobody is watching. One day you might have someone to be attached at the hip with, but until then it’s all you. The only person you’ll have by your side from birth to death is yourself.
So spend some time getting to know yourself better! Don’t only spend the mundane moments by yourself. Bite the bullet and go solo to a restaurant, movie theatre, gym or club. It may sound cheesy, but be your own best friend, and then you’ll learn to love the mouse moments.