Have you ever walked into a restaurant and seen someone eating alone? Most of us would answer, "Yes." Have you instantly felt bad for that individual? Most of us again would answer, "Yes." However, the real question is: Should we jump to the conclusion that the individual has no one to go out to eat with, or should we applaud that person for being independent and strong enough to sit in a restaurant alone?

I’ve learned that we cannot let others hold us back, or depend on others to make us happy. Think about it. How many times have you not done something because you did not want to go alone? If I want froyo after class, or want to go hiking on a Sunday morning, why should someone else have the control over what I want? So, here are three reasons why doing things alone is perfectly OK.

1. We all need peace and quiet

Going to the same classes and seeing the same people everyday can be exhausting. We all need to clear our heads, and think about ourselves from time to time. Having time to be by yourself and relax can help your overall health and sanity.

2 Success comes from yourself

In college, everyone is striving to be successful. We all basically want the same things: our dream job and a lot of money. However, that is a lot easier said than done. The first step to being successful is going after what you want. This involves not letting anyone get in your way. For example, if you think it is a great idea to go to a conference, and no one else wants to attend, it looks like you are one step ahead of everyone else. We can never depend on others to reach our own success.

3. You're happier

It's a terrible feeling when you make these exciting plans, but then someone wants to change them or backs out on you. If you make plans with just yourself, or are willing to continue your plans by yourself, then no one can ruin them. This diminishes the feeling of disappointment. Why be unhappy trying to depend on or please others when you could be happier doing something by yourself?