Between classes, clubs, and work, it seems as if I am constantly interacting with others. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I do value my time alone. At the end of the day, I love to unwind and relax by putting my headphones on and working on some homework, either in the library or my room. While others may seek out friends to hang out with after classes, I enjoy being alone, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Being an introvert is often seen as a negative thing in our society. When people see others sitting alone or eating alone, they feel bad and assume that they are lonely. What those people don't know is that maybe people who are sitting alone wanted to be alone. Maybe all of their friends were busy and they needed to go eat. Maybe they have a busy schedule and needed to fit in a quick time to eat. Or, maybe they just wanted to have some peaceful time to themselves.
I consider myself to be an independent person; I don't like having to depend on others for when I can do something. If I'm hungry and want to go eat but have no one to go with, I'm going to go eat anyways. If I want to go do homework at a coffee house but my friends are busy, I'm not going to let that change my plans. Some people enjoy constantly being around others and hate the idea of going places alone. While there is nothing wrong with that, it's just not who I am. I personally find it peaceful and relaxing to go do things alone. It allows me to figure out what I enjoy doing (or what I don't) without the letting the opinions of others bias me. Being alone also helps me to be comfortable with who I am as a person. At the end of the day, no matter whether you are constantly surrounded by others or not, you only have yourself. And if you don't like yourself and aren't confident in who you are, you have nothing.
Even though I enjoy being alone and doing things by myself, it does not mean that I'm lonely or have no friends. These are common misconceptions of people who tend to be more introverted. I enjoy doing things with friends, just in moderation. I don't feel as if I have to constantly be with other people to have fun; I can have fun on my own. Being with others all the time can even get a bit exhausting. I also prefer to keep my circle small and have a few close friends rather than many acquaintances. Hanging out with people you don't know very well just for the purpose of not being alone can be awkward; it usually just consists of small talk and shallow conversations. I'd rather be alone than with people I'm only slightly friends with because there's no pressure as to whether you say the right or wrong thing and no feelings of discomfort. If my close friends aren't available to do something with me and I really want to do it, I'll go do it alone instead of reaching out to acquaintances to come with me.
Everyone is different and has their own personality. Some people are really outgoing and love being in large groups of people. Other people prefer to do their own thing and be with friends once in a while. So next time you see someone alone, whether it be at a restaurant, dining hall, movie theater, or sporting event, don't just assume that they are lonely and feel bad for them. They, like me, may enjoy doing things alone.
