The world is a big place full of complicated people, loud spaces, bold new technologies, buildings being erected, dazzling lights and a never-ending movement of pounding feet. Everyone is racing towards finish lines, whether it is love, a perfect family, a dream career or something not yet defined. In the end, it can become a habit to get lost within all the commotion and forget to find time to spend alone or do things by ourselves. Moments spent with just our thoughts are vital, though, because they are spaces for us to realign hopes and dreams and define who we are as individuals. Participating in activities by yourself can also be fun and rewarding because it helps you realize that you are all you've got and the only person you need to navigate this crazy world. So without further ado here are seven things you should try doing alone that may surprise you.
1. Go to the movies.
You don't need your best friend or boyfriend with you to enjoy that new romantic comedy or Tom Cruise movie you've been waiting to see. Why stall for someone else if it is something you have been looking forward to and have the time for now? You may even find that you appreciate the acting and film work more deeply when there is no one next to you whispering in your ear.
2. Enjoy a day of shopping.
When it comes to a trip to the grocery store or local mall, it's never a bad idea to go it alone and focus solely on yourself and your wants and desires. A lot of times we look towards others for approval of what we choose to buy and put in our cart. You will find that on your own you will be more thoughtful about where you are putting your money and will make more fulfilling decisions that fit you best. Also, it's definitely a perk to not have to track down your friend when he or she has wandered off into another section and you can't find them.
3. Take a long walk and get lost somewhere on the map.
People never think to go traveling on their own through familiar places like an overgrown backyard, a neighborhood park or the fast-beating heart of a city they grew up in. Spaces only become boring and lifeless if we allow them to and let our minds become distracted with what flaunts itself in front of them. So go out by yourself and explore. You are very likely to come across something beautiful and new when you get lost in the seemingly familiar.
4. Treat yourself to a meal at a nice sit-down restaurant.
We all have to eat to survive, so there are bound to be days when you are stuck doing it alone. Sitting down at your favorite Italian joint or seafood place without asking your friend or roommate to tag along is actually quite enjoyable because it creates time for you to ponder life and enjoy your food without having to think about keeping a conversation going. You can sit and digest your meal for as long as you need and won't feel rushed to pay the bill and leave.
5. Go to a concert or music festival.
Music is healing and molds an atmosphere that naturally brings people closer together through a common love of a particular song or band. You don't need someone you know standing next to you to fall into the beautiful melodies and have a good time. You may even meet some interesting new people on your own whom you would not have paid attention to otherwise.
6. Hit the gym.
There is something particularly intimate and personally satisfying about working out and moving your body to accomplish physically arduous tasks like lifting weights, doing push-ups or running. Many people overlook this fact, but working out is a mental game and we each, on our own, must train our minds to push through painful processes to reach the endings we desire. After you have completed a difficult routine, it is hard not to feel proud of yourself and more confident in your body and its unique capabilities.
7. Explore your passions.
Don't be afraid to nurture your path and run towards the things that make you happy with open arms. Whether it involves joining a yoga class, picking up a new hobby like knitting or photography, reading a book on a topic that interests you, or lying in bed drafting lists of things you want to accomplish, remember that you belong to yourself and that comes before anything else. You build your own world from street to towering building and maybe someday someone will want to share in this world you have created on your own.
