In every stage of our lives, each of us can probably remember at least one kid who always seemed to be alone. There was that girl who nearly always sat alone in the cafeteria in high school. That boy who never stayed to talk to people after church was over. Maybe that used to be you. Or maybe it still is.
Loners tend to get a bad rap. Some pity them, viewing them as socially awkward or shy. While this may be true of a small percentage of loners (the ones who are extreme loners), it is not correct for all of them.
The truth is, the loner often has little fear of people. Often they just don't see a reason to invest so much into their social lives. It's not that they don't like people. They just don't want to put effort into someone who ends up not being worth their time: someone who can't relate to them, or gossips all the time, or is just plain annoying.
Probably one of the best qualities of the loner is their lack of need for other people to validate them. Many of the most popular and talkative people you meet find security through the laughter they receive from others or the amount of friends they have. This is an unhealthy and shaky foundation on which to build self-confidence. Loners know who they are and are secure about it. If someone doesn't like them, they shrug it off and keep doing what they want to do. They are perfectly capable of doing things on their own and don't feel the need to constantly be surrounded by a clique of supporting friends.
Loners also can make some of the best friends. Since they are so picky about who they really open up to, they care deeply for those they do invest in. Extremely loyal and excellent listeners, loners will certainly stand out from the rest of your circle of friends.
Though loners do like to spend some time alone, they also tend to be deeper individuals. Often they come up with great ideas that no one else would think of. Sometimes they filter through what they are hearing from others, tweak it, and form their own ideas from them. Or they might come up with an idea completely independent from what they've heard from others. The possibilities are endless.
Being alone too often is not healthy; however, having a loner mindset certainly can be. A loner secure in his independence, yet possessing a genuine passion for life, can truly go far.
