Being Alone

As I’ve grown older I’ve become used to the idea of being alone. Being alone is not a bad thing, even though our culture wants us to believe that it is. Being alone can be liberating in many ways. You learn more about yourself and the kind of person you want to be. Being alone leaves you to reflect on all the things in your life.

For much of my teenage years I was alone. There were times where I was around others and actually enjoyed myself, but ultimately I found refuge in the times I spent away from others. In those moments I felt like I could be myself and not have to worry about what others thought about me. I took that time to write and read books. I took long bike rides exploring my neighborhood, blasting music in my ears and getting lost in my imagination. Being alone allowed me to become a better observer of the world around me, and afforded me the opportunity to think big ideas.

So I wasn’t the social butterfly with all the friends. So what? Being alone led me to being the person that I am today. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.