Independence. Yeah, it's great. But unless you're the most repulsive human being on the planet, don't plan on being alone forever; someone's bound to like you eventually. For many, independence is pure bliss. No one to be accountable for but yourself and no one to report to when you get home. Independence is all about learning about yourself and figuring out what place you occupy in the world. No one knows you better than yourself, so why not take full advantage of getting to know "all of you" before getting sucked into a relationship (please excuse me while I barf into a bag). While being alone is not for everyone, those who dare to take on life solo may just have the upper-hand when it comes to discovering life's greatest pleasures.

For as long as I can remember, I've always cherished my freedom. I realize that as my life progresses, I'm not always going to be able to experience the luxuries that come with being independent. Not only will I have to be responsible for someone other than myself, but I will have to consider the thoughts and feelings of another person(s) in my decision-making. And as much as these things are hard for me to conceptualize now, I realize that all of it will become reality soon enough.

As an extremely independent individual, time is very precious to me. And Lately, I don't seem to have enough of it. This means that I don't have time to waste waiting around for people to be a part of my chaotic lifestyle. I know that sounds harsh, but I've come to find that people are hard to please, and life's too short to waste pleasing everyone around you. I try hard not to plan my life out too much, but when there's something I want, I set my mind to it. One of the most troubling aspects of independence, well, at least for me, is that it's not always easy being alone. Granted, being independent doesn't mean you have to be alone for every second of your life, but when you spend a majority of your time flying solo, things can get pretty boring.

Now, I know what you're thinking, this girl is going to end up as a crazy cat lady when she gets older. While that may or may not be true, I'd much rather be free than linked to someone who doesn't make me happy. Sometimes I think about what lies ahead. What will happen down the road or how my life will unravel in the future. Obviously, whatever happens, happens but the possibility of losing my independence is something that troubles me the most. I guess I'm so used to doing things on my own that I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable with the idea of companionship.

While independence does have its downsides, being alone has helped me gain clarity in my life. And the more of life's challenges I choose to take on by myself, the more I see myself growing and maturing as a human being. If you're always depending on someone else to get you out of a tight spot, how will you ever know what you're capable of? How will you know what your limitations are? There's no pre-determined timeline of how your life will turn out. Your life, and how it takes shape, is all about what you bring to the table. If you haven't figured it out already, you're the narrator of your own life's story, and only you get to determine how your story gets told. Independence is all about living out your wildest dreams and falling in love with yourself because as cliché as that may sound, one day you'll come across someone who will completely blow you away, and if you're not content or secure with yourself, how do you expect him/her to fall in love with you?

Independence is something I think we all can appreciate in life. Everyone experiments with independence in their own way, and there is certainly no right or wrong way to being independent. I've been introduced to some pretty incredible things in life thanks to my independence, and I know I wouldn't be half the person I am today without it.

Having someone to share your life with is pretty amazing, and it's like nothing else on Earth. Being able to connect with another human being is one of life's greatest gifts, but if we don't fully understand ourselves on an individual level, it makes connecting with someone that much more difficult. And as much as you may crave companionship, just remember that independence is a beautiful thing, so don't be so quick to give it up.