Donot rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all life’sgreatest tests alone.” -Agnes Macphail
Ihave found that the more time I spend alone, the more comfortable I become inmy own skin because I can truly get to know myself. This provides me with morepatience to accept myself as I am, wherever I am in my journey, on a dailybasis.
Thislesson was something I learned after spending a summer alone in Italy with afamily friend.
Iembarked on the journey, turning off my phone for the first time, well,probably ever. I would be jetting all over America then landing in a countrywith a family basically unknown to me.
Itwasn’t until two years after I returned that I wished I had spent more timeliving in the moment while experiencing the greatest adventure of my life. Iwas not comfortable enough in my own skin to truly be present in the magicalmoments presenting themselves in a foreign country.
Mymind stayed distracted as I wondered what people were thinking of me, and whatI would post online to my friends back home.
At19 years old, it seemed much more important to capture photos to upload tosocial media. The Internet was a crutch for me to not feel so alone in anunknown territory. As brave as I was to be completely alone in my adventure, Ihad a thousand people to “connect” with on my lonely nights!
Twoyears later I realized that I could have filled my days with activities forgrowth.
Inow wish I had traveled to nearby cities, spent my days reading in a cafe,tried acupuncture—anything out ofthe ordinary.
Thetruth was I didn’t have the hobbies I have now. The trip did help me grow, butI regret that I could not simply enjoy the moments, instead of wantingthousands of others to see I was enjoying them.
Idiscovered that if I want to be happy, it would be my own doing. Happiness isan interior process and comes without validation from others.
Thisis something that is a lesson to be relearned each day.
Spendingsmall moments of time alone—sans phone, tablet, laptop, TV, and radio—allowsone to really tune in. We need to ask ourselves things like: What is my bodytelling me today? How do I feel today?
Ihave found that the more time I spend alone, the more comfortable I become inmy own skin because I can truly get to know myself. This provides me with morepatience to accept myself as I am, wherever I am in my journey, on a dailybasis.
Thislesson was something I learned after spending a summer alone in Italy with afamily friend.
Iembarked on the journey, turning off my phone for the first time, well,probably ever. I would be jetting all over America then landing in a countrywith a family basically unknown to me.
Itwasn’t until two years after I returned that I wished I had spent more timeliving in the moment while experiencing the greatest adventure of my life. Iwas not comfortable enough in my own skin to truly be present in the magicalmoments presenting themselves in a foreign country.
Mymind stayed distracted as I wondered what people were thinking of me, and whatI would post online to my friends back home.
At19 years old, it seemed much more important to capture photos to upload tosocial media. The Internet was a crutch for me to not feel so alone in anunknown territory. As brave as I was to be completely alone in my adventure, Ihad a thousand people to “connect” with on my lonely nights!
Twoyears later I realized that I could have filled my days with activities forgrowth.
Inow wish I had traveled to nearby cities, spent my days reading in a cafe,tried acupuncture—anything out ofthe ordinary.
Thetruth was I didn’t have the hobbies I have now. The trip did help me grow, butI regret that I could not simply enjoy the moments, instead of wantingthousands of others to see I was enjoying them.
Idiscovered that if I want to be happy, it would be my own doing. Happiness isan interior process and comes without validation from others.
Thisis something that is a lesson to be relearned each day.
Spendingsmall moments of time alone—sans phone, tablet, laptop, TV, and radio—allowsone to really tune in. We need to ask ourselves things like: What is my bodytelling me today? How do I feel today?
