When you hear the word "alone," your gut reaction is probably a negative one. You might have not meant to be negative, but you can't help it. Unfortunately, this negativity is a by-product of a society that emphasizes constant interaction. Constant interaction leaves us with a negative impression of being alone (even if it's just for a little while), and it's easy to see why. When all you see is your friends doing interesting stuff, you want to be a part of it too.
It isn't uncommon to hear negative words such as "loner" or "loser" to describe introverts. Even extroverts might find themselves exhausted from keeping in constant contact with others through social media while simultaneously attempting to connect with people in real life.
Technology has made it impossible for us to be alone, even when no one is in the room with us. We are almost always being assailed with other people's opinions, problems, and stories. At times, that can be an incredible thing. Technology has immense benefits for us. However, we need to examine its effects as well. It isn't healthy to be unable to take time out of your day to focus on your own self. Without reflection, we cannot improve. We need to learn to be comfortable and confident in our own skin. To do that, we need to spend time with ourselves!
Confidence comes from within. We cannot acquire it from others, despite some of our best efforts. Seeking likes, retweets, and shares can't replace our self-image. One small example of this is how I come across someone almost everyday who mentions that they are afraid to eat alone in the cafeteria. No one actually judges anyone for eating alone, but people are insecure anyways.
Everyone worries about how others perceive them, sure. But how much is too much? When we can no longer go to a movie by ourselves? When we can't face someone without makeup? Our lack of alone time has built up to these types of insecurities.
There's nothing wrong with wanting people in your life. Sometimes, though, we just need to take a step back and take a look at ourselves without all the background noise.