“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
The 20th and 21st century have been known to cultivate generations of strong, independent women. Thanks to the powerful females before me, I benefit from the right to vote, own land, work, and truly be my own person.
I had always considered myself an independent person until I found myself living away at university. Suddenly, I couldn’t stand to be alone. My newfound friends and I would stroll together from class to class, escort each other to the bathroom and share every meal. Maybe it was the enthusiasm of our recent freedom; maybe it was a nostalgic throwback to the Kindergarten buddy system.
I didn’t see a problem with my inability to “ride solo” until no one was around. Even when fatigued after a long day, I would rather fight to ignore hunger pains than sit in the dining hall alone. Riding the bus to and from classes without a friend by my side felt like a crime. How could I call myself an independent woman if I didn’t feel comfortable in a lonely moment?
Here is a list of challenges for the modern independent woman in an effort to step out of our comfort zone and feel confident in our own, solo skin.
1. Go to the movies.
2. Go on a nature walk or climb a lighthouse.
3. Take yourself out for a meal.
4. Take a day trip to a new city.
5. Read a good book.
6. Spend an entire day at the beach.
7. Fix something that’s broken, like a wobbly chair or a leaky faucet!
8. Go buy an ice cream cone and eat it outside.
9. Cook yourself a three-course meal.
10. Go to a museum you’ve never been to.
11. Crafts!
12. Watch the sunrise or sunset.
13. Take a bubble bath.
14. Have a glass of wine and watch your favorite movie.
15. Dance in the rain. (Cliché, I know. But have you ever tried it?!)
16. Spend an entire day without your cell phone, laptop, and social media.
17. Get a planner and organize your life.
18. Go to a new fitness class like yoga, Pilates or rock climbing.
19. Visit your closest state park to learn more about YOUR home.
20. Check off one thing on your personal bucket list.
Comment below if you have tried any of these things alone before, or if you plan to!
