In a world where we are judged based on “who wore it better," where going without makeup for a day means hiding away inside for a day, where going out partying with 300 of our “closest friends" seems like the only option for an amazing night and where every aspect of our lives are projected across social media, it's hard to think of ourselves as individuals. It's hard to remember that we are people with deep thoughts and feelings that can overwhelm us. It's hard to remember that we are unique, that we are different, that we are living one life—our life. It's hard to remember that we all matter.
But we do. And no matter how alone we may feel in a situation, we must realize that we are not alone. Pictures can be deceiving; don't judge your life based on someone else's. A smile can be deceiving; you may never know what is going on in that person's head. We all go through the same twists and turns of life. We are all playing this same game.
Through these twists and turns and ups and downs that life naturally brings every single person, it's important to remember the importance of alone time. I know, FOMO kicks in or the phone buzzes and we can't sit still and do absolutely nothing; we suddenly aren't comfortable with being by ourselves. But it is the ability to fight this uncomfortable feeling that gives us the opportunity to fully get to know ourselves again. It is such moments alone—without distractions—that we can fully be in tune with our wild thoughts and we can be introduced to our true selves again.
Alone time is important. It is as important as exercise, as studying, as calling your mom or keeping in touch with your friends. It is important to take a breather from the world around you and to immerse yourself into activities and ideas that you love. It is important to get in tune with these thoughts and emotions and to allow yourself to feel them and not hold back. How are we expected to know what feeling happiness is without feeling sadness? How can we know ease without anger? How can we know love without hate?
How can we be in any form of a true and candid relationship with another person if we do not allow ourselves the ability to have a true and candid relationship with ourselves?
Time alone is your time alone. Feel things. Think things. Let your mind wander and let your thoughts fly. You may realize things about yourself that you never knew. You may realize things about others that you never knew—what you like, what you dislike. And once you allow yourself to experience this time alone, without distractions, you may be comforted with a finding of a new appreciation for yourself. Because we are all unique individuals trying to make it in the same game of life. And in the end, you are the only one who is with yourself for every second of it.
