Society has a thing against loners. There's just a hidden prejudice against people who are sitting alone, living alone, or doing anything alone.
"What a loner, she must be so weird"
"Why doesn't she have any friends? She must be weird and unfriendly"
I remember when I first went to eat at a restaurant alone, having such fear. I was so scared that I would be judged and scrutinized like how it is in those teen movies.
But that's not the case. Because our existence is so centered around ourselves, we think everyone is going to constantly judge and think about what we are doing at the moment. But that is only what goes on in our head. Everyone else is at the restaurant trying to enjoy a birthday celebration or a graduation. They couldn't care less about you (...if that helps).
We're so afraid of being alone because of social stigmas. But spending time with yourself helps you to get to know yourself. How can you love yourself if you don't spend time to get to know yourself?
Here are a few activities to do with yourself, in order of difficulty:
1. Take a walk by yourself
2. Watch a movie by yourself.
3. Shop by yourself (groceries, clothing, etc.)
4. Treat yourself to dessert or whatever you would usually do with friends
5. Eat at a restaurant alone (maybe not on Valentine's Day though)
Nobody is going to understand every inside joke as well as you do. Nobody is going to be as entertained by that one video of that raccoon the way you will. Nobody is going to accept and allow the 524775th repeat of "Somebody Else" by the 1975 the way you will.
Being by yourself means not having to make any sacrifices, whether it's on what movie you want to watch or what restaurant you want to eat at.
Is this article just a call for society to accept my laziness? And is it just a disguised attempt for people to excuse how much I do not enjoy meeting new people or socializing with others?
How did you know?
But in all honesty, enjoying your own company and loving yourself will make you more open to accept and love other people around you.
You are your own biggest critic, but you also have the most potential to love yourself. Let's break the social stigma against being by yourself. There's nothing wrong with enjoying your own company more than you enjoy other people's.