I like being by myself. As I get older and I begin to understand myself more and how my mind interprets things and how I digest emotions, I can honestly say that I am comfortable spending most of my time in solitude.

Now, this doesn’t mean to say that I don’t adore my friends and family, nor does it mean that I spend all of my time, sitting in my bedroom in the dark… I only do this most of the time. I just mean that I’m beautifully at peace with being by myself for extended periods of time; just simply being.

I think this is important and more people would benefit from taking some time to themselves every now and then, to really get to know themselves. Or maybe it’s just me. There is no right or wrong way to exist – maybe I’m just writing this because I wish I had realised sooner that it is absolutely fine to revel in my own friendship and that being alone didn’t necessarily mean I was lonely. Perhaps I’d have been more productive over the years if I learned to appreciate myself a little more rather than wishing I was appreciated by others. Maybe someone needs to hear this so they come to the same realisation sooner.

Humans are social creatures, I can’t deny that. I can’t sit here and say that being on your ones 24/7 is healthy but I do think there is too much pressure on consistently interacting with others. There seems to be this subtle stigma attached to being a part time hermit and I can’t for the life of me understand why because I discover more about myself each day I spend enclosed in my own mind. I have gotten over issues I didn’t think would pass, I’ve digested emotions I thought would constantly stir in my head, I’ve untangled thoughts and anxious knots and after 22 years of life, I’m more at peace with myself and those I choose to affiliate myself with than ever. But again, maybe that’s just me.

Maybe I’m actually a boomer because the fact that we live our lives on an electrical device glued to our hands, keeping us seconds away from a conversation with anyone around the world, has created a sort of over saturation in terms of connection with the outside world, thus creating a disconnection within ourselves, stresses me out.

Or maybe it really is as simple as I personally just really enjoy my own company.