This summer, I packed up my bags and moved to an unfamiliar town, in an unfamiliar apartment, with people I met on Craigslist. These are the compelling lessons I took away from this experience.
ALWAYS make a list before you go food shopping.
Make sure this list only consists of what you need for the week and of stuff that you actually know how to cook. Or else you’ll end up with piles of ambitious ingredients in your cart totaling $200 that you’ll probably end up throwing out in a week. I suggest sticking to what you know: AKA pasta, Ramen, and cold cuts, for me at least.
Being on your own is a great time to start back up those hobbies that get swept under the rug.
During the school year, it’s easy to forget to set aside time for yourself for those few things you love to do (for me, it’s sketching and writing). There’s always a friend to hang out with instead, or work to be done, or another conflict getting in the way. But being alone for a while allows you to realize how important it is to make time for these things, whatever they may be.
As great as alone time is, good company is priceless.
After being by myself for a summer (and yes, I say by myself because my roommates and I didn’t exactly get along or talk about how each other’s days were), I’ve realized how important it is to have good friends to hang out with and talk to. There’s something special about being able to share your experiences, joys, and hardships with others that you can’t get by yourself. So the next time you’re in good company, cherish that moment, and appreciate those around you, because there will come a time when you really miss it.
You’re never too old to miss your parents.
Sometimes, all you want is to go home and be with them. They are safe, comforting, and to be quite honest they will always know how to take care of you better than you will know how to take care of yourself. I spent a lot of my summer missing my parents, and regretting the fact that I wasn’t home to be spending time with them. We can’t always just pick ourselves up and head home to our parents when we miss them, but a call or text can go a long way. Make sure to give your parents a call every so often and let them know you’re thinking about them. It might just make their day.
Beauty is always around you, but sometimes you have to go looking for it.
Being in a town where I literally did not know a soul was pretty intimidating, especially in a town with a not-so-great reputation. I was slightly scared of being alone outside my apartment, so I spent the first month rarely venturing out of my room, aside from work. One day I got fed up with being cooped up inside on such a lovely summer evening, so I decided to go for a run. During my run, I happened upon a trail that stretched alongside a river. It was dusk, the sun was just about to set, and I was in awe of how beautiful the view was.
After my run, I cursed myself for waiting so long for venturing outside my apartment, because what I had been missing out on was incredibly beautiful. From then on, I went running several times a week, each time exploring a new route, and I was always pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the world outside my apartment was. So if you ever find yourself in a situation similar to mine, don’t be afraid to go exploring the world around you, because more likely than not, you’ll be intrigued with what you find.
