Today was my second full day in Los Angeles—the beginning of my “real life,” meaning life outside of school, a dorm building, and all of the social networks that encompass them. I’ve lived alone in apartments before, but this time it feels quite different. This time I’m really all by myself—no classmates, no co-workers, no boyfriend stopping by. I have a good group of friends here, but I haven’t seen any of them yet. For the last two days, it’s been just me, myself, and I. Although it has been a little strange at times (I keep feeling like there’s someone in the apartment here with me), I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. Admittedly, I have spent a good amount of time on the phone and surfing the internet, but I’ve also taken the time to venture out by myself. Today, I went to the so-called Original Farmers Market and yesterday I had lunch at The Chicken Lady before doing some shopping (where I bought a lovely purse and a great pair of jeans). If someone had asked me before this experience if I enjoyed my own company, I would have certainly said yes, but I think that the next few weeks will really reveal just how much I can enjoy spending time alone. I’ve often heard that learning to relish time spent alone is a part of maturing into a woman. Wendy Williams even says that you should vacation alone before getting married. It certainly feels great to do whatever I want whenever I want while knowing that friends are only a phone call and 15 minute drive away.
Photo Credit: “And All I Loved, I Loved Alone” by Scarleth White via Flickr
CrazyGirls – what are your favorite ways to enjoy your own company?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This post is great food for thought. I do think as a woman matures she grows to enjoy the comfort of her own company more, but that enjoyment shouldn’t go too far where she doesn’t allow herself to get out there and be social. The recommendation about traveling alone is somethingk I hope to try out.
If learning to enjoy your own company is part of becoming a woman, then I’ve been a woman since I was a child lol I even blogged about that once, wishing I lived in a world alone and could summon friends/family only when I wished to see them.
I’ve done everything alone…clubs, concerts, eating out…it’s no big thing to me.
To answer your question, my favorite way to spend time alone is driving, preferably in the rain and on an empty road. No particular destination, just a full tank of gas and my mp3 player. There’s something very soothing about the open road and solitude. It gives me time to be alone with my thoughts.
My favorite ways to enjoy spending time alone are reading, watching movies, and doing puzzles. If I happen to have a relatively large amount of free time, I like to pamper myself and do the things I often don’t have time for: bubble baths, at-home facials, painting my nails (fingers and toes!), etc.
I personally wouldn’t vacation alone because I don’t like being alone in public places–at least not for long periods of time. I enjoy being alone when I’m actually by myself, like when I’m at home. I’ll do necessary things like go shopping alone, but eating out, watching movies and vacationing alone are not my thing. Being alone at home is relaxing, but being alone in public isn’t much fun for me.