Something that many people seem to be struggling with nowadays is being alone. Constantly referred to as a sad or unwanted state of being, people terrify themselves with the thought of it. My question is: when was it decided that the concept of being alone was such a bad thing? People dread the awful thought of having to spend time by themselves or without companionship...but why?
Perhaps one of the main reasons that being single is viewed so negatively is because of the way that modern society looks at it, feeding us the lies that we have to be with somebody to be happy, or that being alone is the saddest thing that a person can be. But if you ask me, having the ability to be alone is one of the best traits that someone can have.
The truth? Being alone is inevitable. You can dodge it and run from it all you want, but eventually, we will all be alone at some point in our lives. The important thing is that we don’t view it as such a bad thing, but instead recognize why sometimes choosing to kick it solo is the better choice.
For starters, if we were never alone, we would never really get the chance to know ourselves. Someone who invests all of their time into a relationship is not always likely to see what they themselves are capable of. When left alone, we’re more able to appreciate all that we have to offer to the world as individuals. So whether you’re creative, smart, or influential, there are a number of important ways that you can impact the world around you.
Being alone also helps us recognize what is good for us and what isn’t. It’s too often that we find ourselves surrounded by toxic things we once mistook for being good ones. Once we’re able to learn more about ourselves and the way that different things affect us, we can begin to better watch our own backs.
Another huge part of being alone is becoming more independent. For the most part, everybody likes to think that they’re independent. But when it comes down to it, a lot of us actually express very dependent tendencies. Adjusting to the idea of solitude helps reinforce the mindset that you can do things on your own, and that you don’t always need someone else to help you.
Last but not least, you grow. I cannot begin to express the amount you will grow through time spent alone. Whether it’s all of the nights that you sit alone in your room, or the few times that you find yourself without many people around to call a friend, you will grow.
Many people like to say that being alone is a bad thing, but I’d have to disagree. It’s so easy to get lost and confused in all the different stages of life, but spending time alone can help you identify the person you truly are as well as focus on freely being that person. So, the next time you’re tempted to tweet about being “forever alone” or “the third wheel of the century,” remember all of the important things that being alone can teach you.
