Alone vs Lonely

Hey you! How was your weekend? I took myself out for a live performance and it was great. It's only been a few months that I've been consciously trying to be comfortable doing some things alone—especially going out alone. I tend to be so conscious of it, always feeling (although I know it's not true) that people are pitiful of me being alone. I'm also trying to be more open with my feelings and emotions, which can sometimes be hard. But overall, I think I'm getting there. But after this weekend, I'm feeling a little more at ease about being by myself. It's okay to do things on my own—it doesn't mean anything bad about me or my life. Just because there's no one else around doesn't mean I'm missing out on anything. And if there is someone else around, well… that just means they get to meet someone new and exciting! But here's the thing: The world doesn't owe you anything. You don't have to go out with friends or family every time you leave your house, no matter how much fun they are or how much you love them. There are plenty of things in life that we can do alone, and if we don't like doing them alone, we can find someone else to do them with us! But there is nothing wrong with liking yourself enough to want some time away from other people—you deserve it! What do you think—is it possible to be happy when you're by yourself? Or do you think that happiness is something that comes from being with others? Do you feel like being alone makes you more aware of your feelings? I know these might seem like silly questions, but they are important one. When we're young, we're taught that it's important to have friends and family around us all the time—to be with people who love us and support us and make us feel good about ourselves when we need it most. But what if you don't have those things? What if you never had them? What if your situation is such that you don't know how to get them, or even if they exist for you? It's okay. We all have situations in our lives where we feel alone—where we don't have family or friends around us, or maybe even close enough by that we can reach out and touch them. And sometimes those feelings of loneliness can be overwhelming—so much so that they can make us feel like there's no hope at all for happiness in our lives. But guess what: There is hope! And I'll tell you how: By making yourself happy first. Yes, it sounds counterintuitive—but hear me out! Being alone doesn't mean being lonely; it means having time for yourself. Think about how many times you've been happy while by yourself. Maybe it was when you were in the shower, or on your commute to work. Maybe it was when you were camping and got to spend some time with nature, or when you watched a movie by yourself and felt totally immersed in all of the characters' feelings. You can be happy by yourself, and there's no reason to feel guilty about it! When you're alone, it can feel like no one is there to support you, or like you have nothing to do. But actually, being on your own gives you an opportunity to spend some time with yourself, and that can be a really rewarding experience! You might notice things about yourself that you don't normally get a chance to see; maybe you'll be able to sit down and contemplate what your goals are for the future, or how you want your life to go. You could also use this time to do some volunteer work if that's something that makes you happy. There are also some great ways to entertain yourself when you're alone: read a book; watch a movie; listen to music; go for a walk in nature; take a bath… the possibilities are endless! I think it can be difficult to be happy when you're alone because we all have a tendency to compare ourselves to others and feel like we're not good enough. But being alone doesn't mean you're lonely, or that you don't have friends. It just means that instead of comparing yourself to other people, you get to spend some time with yourself and figure out what makes YOU happy. I've fou