It’s past midnight and I’m sitting in the basement of Willy-T. It's not that late, compared to those anxious nights before exams, but just enough so that the usual traffic has cleared out, and even the Hub has quieted down.
All I’m listening to right now is the distant hum of some power generator or heating unit, a backdrop against the periodic phases of keys clattering and silence as I shift between my work and my thoughts.
We all have quiet moments like these, solitary ones, whether they be in your dorm or your head, the cafeteria or the gym. You could be surrounded by a sea of people, yet see no faces, lost in your own thoughts. The world might shift in focus, and suddenly details are thrown into wildly new perspectives. The raindrops sliding down your window become clear etches of an intricate, ever-shifting design. The style of the carpet on your floor morphs from a mass-produced, cheap factory product to an eye-catching infinity that pulls your gaze from pattern to pattern.
It’s a shared human experience, honestly. No matter how much we surround ourselves with friends or family, we will unfailingly have some moments of the day or week when we find ourselves alone. And it’s not a bad thing.
Whether you spend your time drifting through some childhood memory, fantasizing about another life, or wondering whether to eat at the 90 or Bowman’s Den, there is a universal beauty to being introspective. We open up to ourselves; we can review the day and give ourselves a pat on the back for silent victories or reassure ourselves over a loss. No one expects you to be constantly social, or spend your nights surrounded by bright lights and stimulation. There’s no rule against it, either. It’s a life of moderation that’s key, and too many times I’ve had to remind myself it’s quite alright to enjoy the little things. The private conversations with yourself.
This article isn’t about any specific scenario or personal experience. It’s not about a person or a thing. It’s about a vague sentiment that purposefully mirrors that vague loneliness we sometimes feel. It’s a reminder that, despite what troubles you may be going through, or those regrets over people no longer in your life, our most solitary seconds are some of our most precious.
