I like to do things by myself. Whether it's reading, going to the beach, riding in a car, having me time is an important part of my wellbeing. However, it tends to be looked down upon. It seems like a crime when I go by myself to do one of my favorite things in the world to do: watching a movie in a theater. I always have been warned of the dangers that happen to women who are alone, like going to the bathroom, for instance, but I was still willing to take that risk if it meant I was going to have a moment to myself.

This past weekend, though, I decided to take a leap of faith. I really wanted to go see "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot," a movie that was based on the life of one of my favorite reporters. I read Kim Barker's memoir "The Taliban Shuffle" my junior year of high school just for fun, and I was captivated by her story in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The novel made me appreciate journalism and writing in a new light. So when I heard that this book was being made into a movie, I knew I had to go, especially since one of my favorite actresses of all time was the wheeling force behind the production.

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, and I just felt the urge to go and see it. I had asked several of my friends to go with me, but since they weren't super interested in the topic, I knew I was going to have to see this movie on my own. I put on my best sweatpants and casual flip flops and headed to the theater.

I didn't get all of that super expensive popcorn and soda, so I just went and sat in the theater as the commercials played. There were plenty of people in the theater, and as I climbed the stairs to the back row, I could feel the stares on my back. "This is a social experiment," I kept telling myself, "don't think about the attention your drawing." I sat in the back corner of the theater, two seats away from a young couple. The guy kept looking at me throughout the commercials, checking to see if my "date" was coming. I guess he came to realize that, no, I did not have a date and I was actually in a theater by myself. I could see in my peripheral vision that he was most definitely surprised, but at that point, I didn't care. I just really wanted the movie to start.

As the movie played, I saw Tina Fey, one of my favorite comedians and role models, take a serious tone and portray a story that I loved. Sure, it was different from the book and Kim Barker's actual experiences. But the essence was all the same. Even in the Hollywood-ized version of "The Taliban Shuffle," I couldn't help but feel empowered and capable of doing the seemingly impossible. As a writer, I was inspired, but as a woman, I was in awe.

I left the theater that day feeling more confident than I had in months. It wasn't that something necessarily dragged me down, but I was reminded of my ability to live a full life. In that moment, in those two hours I watched a movie, I was living my life on my own terms, not by society's. I wanted to do something, and I did it. So often, we as people have so many apprehensions to do things on our own. Whether it is a task that does not have a set plan, making a career that is completely unique to you, or simply falling into the mundane trap of having a specific order of every day life, we are susceptible of getting caught up in the ordinary, the typical.

I wanted to live extraordinarily that day, and I did. I did not let the norm of society define my actions that day, and it felt incredible. I highly suggest going see a movie by yourself, or doing any typical group activity by yourself. It's an experience you won't forget.