Recently, I read a post by Free People listing 8 amazing things to do on your own. A lot of the listed activities resonated with me, which led me to realise I'm a fan of solitude. Don't get me wrong I love being around people as much as the next person, having lots of close personal friends in life is extremely important. However there are some days where I do not want to chat with people, sometimes because I simply have nothing to say, because I'm worrying about something or I just want to be alone.
I find it quite common to see that many people in life are often afraid to do things alone, be it shopping, joining a club or going out in public. I personally prefer doing the majority of my shopping alone these days, given that university makes everyone's schedules a bit muddled and makes chores such as food shopping much quicker and fuss free. When I have the time to go shopping for nicer things, I really appreciate browsing alone. I enjoy taking my time looking around my favourite stores, not having to wait for someone else to finish up in the changing rooms because I can be selfish and take as little or as much time as I please.
I often think some people don't want to shop alone due to a fear of appearing lonely. When I was younger it was absolutely essential to make a day out of shopping with a few friends from school, whereas now I can decide when I want to go according to my schedule during the week, and sometimes be done with it in half an hour. I think some care too much about what others may think of them because they are out alone in public.
I also love taking public transport alone. There is nothing better than sticking your Ipod in on a long train journey and watching all the scenery fly by you. I enjoy people watching immensely on public transport too; you just can't predict the types of people who will be taking a similar journey with you, the mix will be different every time. I spend every journey on the bus to and from work alone and I wouldn't have it any other way - part of this stems from the fact I love being able to organise myself without needing a lift from my parents, all the responsibility rests on my shoulders.
Another reason why I think I'm quite a solitary person is that I am very comfortable with silence. Friends often mistake me for being upset if I'm not very talkative around them, but this is when I'm in more of a thoughtful mood, and I do not feel the need to say anything. Around good friends silence should always be comfortable, and I do not think conversation is needed every second, which shows that I do not rely on constant conversation to feel secure about close relationships in my life.
What I really want to say, is that solitude does not equate to loneliness. Solitude is the acceptance of yourself away from other people, being comfortable in your own skin and enjoying your own company, because really who knows you better than yourself?
Thanks for reading! xx
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