Because in being alone, you give yourself the gift of peace. The solitude in its utmost form. It’s okay to be alone because you learn how to make yourself happy without the need of somebody else. You learn how to enjoy things without being forced to please others.
When you are alone, you set boundaries of protection. It doesn’t mean you are afraid of pain. It doesn’t mean you deprive yourself of the necessary vulnerability. It doesn’t mean you can’t get off your comfort zone. But it’s for you to dodge recurring troubles caused by being too open, too exposed to insensitive people. You’ve just become wise enough not to let everyone trespass your borders, because you knew not everyone has the best intentions for you. In being alone you build high walls and guard yourself.
Alone is tantamount to independent. No matter what you go through, you count on yourself the most. You don’t just cry and ask for help. You don’t just let others fix everything for you. You never tend to be desperate. You never squander the time by waiting and looking for someone to be there for you; instead, you find the very solution for your struggle using your very own wisdom.
It’s okay to be alone whenever it’s your birthday, whenever it’s Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s or whatever celebration there is. Celebrating on your own may be sad to the eyes of the typical world but this just shows maturity (because you know happiness doesn’t just depend on the people around you), contentment (because you appreciate yourself enough), and bravery (because you don’t actually let others bother you with what they think).
To them, it may be selfishness, pride, cynicism, or simply anti-socialism. But the truth is, you are soft-hearted, you’re a listener, a thoughtful soul. Once you finally open up your heart, you lavishly pour it all out. You know how to truly love. You are someone worth the chase. Someone whose walls are meant to be shattered only by the people you deserve. People who can respect that deep, vast world you’re in. People who are sensitive enough to know you need the space and time on your own. People who can understand your idealistic principles.
Don’t be afraid of those who always mock you for being lonely, pitiful, friend-less, love-less. You know you are not. You know those are lies. They are just coming from the shallow people who can never be as strong as you are.
So I’m telling you once again, it’s okay to be alone. Because being alone is a superpower not everyone has.
By Karla Crisostomo for ThoughtCatalog