Everyone has felt alone at one point or another in their life.We tend to get lonely after a big move, a hard break up, or just missing the memo that your friends were going out. Human beings are very social creatures, so when we find ourselves alone, it is easy to become sad and feel rejected. However, how we cope with our alone time can greatly influence our mood, self-confidence, and overall impression of ourselves.

Something a lot of people tend not to realize is that you can do everything that you would normally do with at least one other person all by yourself.That’s right! You actually don’t need someone to be with you to go out and have a good time!! There is such a huge stigma around people doing things alone in public, which I personally believe is garbage.I have actually met people at my university that cannot do things by themselves: they need to have a friend to go eat in the dining hall or they just won’t eat, and they MUST have someone accompany them to go to the CVS up the street from school, even if it’s just for a candy bar. It’s insane.

Here’s the thing: being alone in public doesn’t make you a loser, or mean that you don’t have friends. It only means that you are comfortable spending time with just yourself, which is a very empowering feeling.Some of the more peaceful memories I have of my life are from times when I was completely alone. And I am not ashamed of that! Being alone gives you the opportunity to learn new things about yourself, think about stuff that has been bothering you, and clear your head! Solitary time with your own thoughts has the potential to give you clarity and calm down, which is a great benefit. Furthermore, you make your own rules because you don’t need to worry about anyone else’s agenda: you decide where to go, what to do, things to explore, and when to leave.

So, the next time you find yourself alone, feel free to go out in public and explore your options!! Take yourself out to dinner, explore somewhere new, get out into nature, or try out a new activity or hobby! The possibilities are endless.And remember, you never need to feel ashamed of your lack of accompaniment.The people judging you are almost definitely the type that hate being alone and you have to feel sorry that they aren’t experiencing the same liberation as you!

If you are one of those people that can’t be alone anywhere, start slow and just go to the grocery store, or take a short walk in a pretty park to get accustomed. Soon, you’ll become at peace with yourself and be able to go on longer excursions alone, which will only further boost your confidence.You may actually find that you’ll start to enjoy spending time by yourself, and you won’t be self-conscious when you’re alone in public anymore!

You can’t knock it until you try it!