How to Be Lonely AND Happy

Being an only child to a single parent, the feeling of loneliness goes hand in hand. Add on my inability to express my emotions properly, thus preventing friendships to form, I was mostly at home. Alone. Don't worry, I'm not asking you to throw me a pity party or anything, because I'm sure you've felt lonely some point in your life as well. Speaking of pity parties, I used to throw them for myself every night. It was the, "Why doesn't anyone like me?", "Why don't I have any friends?" and "Even my parents hate me..." type of thing. But even a stranger looking in could tell my old self that none of it was true. You kind of have to remove yourself from the situation and notice how many people truly care for you. If you still don't believe that there's anyone you're able to lean on, that's fine too. Because I'm here to show you that you can be "lonely" and happy.

First off, the trick is to work on self-improvement. When you're lonely, you feel as though you only have yourself. Which is all you need! Read as much as you can, learn as many languages as you can, try out new methods of exercise, or maybe learn how to play an instrument. Just try something you have always wanted to do regardless of what held you back before. (Just make sure everyone is safe and unharmed!) When you do happen to complete a goal, you feel accomplished, which makes you proud and confident. It can also draw in people you didn't before. But I'm not here to offer you advice on how to make friends. You can find it on countless of other sites. This is about being by yourself and being satisfied with just you, and you alone.

“I’m not searching for my other half because I’m not a half.” - anonymous post I found on tumblr.

Secondly, realize the plethora of things you're only able to do yourself. I, for one, love going to movies by myself. No, I prefer it. Why? All the choices are mine. Choice of movies, snacks, seating, and whether if I want to catch a second movie or go home if I'm too tired. Don't like movies? Then do something else, because you're able to!

When you've felt loneliness, you know how to survive. You know what it's like to be on your own and how to deal when things get hard. The way I see it, being lonely is a blessing in disguise. You grow and learn how to enjoy your own company. It makes you so much more competent than those who always had a person to rely on, they wouldn't know what to do when the going gets tough! Soon, the waves of loneliness you dread evolves into a body of independence. The next time someone tells you, "You're on your own!", SMILE, because you got this!


-Pamela