Have you ever missed out on doing something just because you didn’t want to do it alone? Have you ever dropped a plan you were really excited about because no one was available to join you? How many times have you compromised on your idea of a good time in order to benefit the people of your life?

We spend a large portion of our lives being warned of the evils of being “antisocial.” Doing something alone makes you a loner, but participating in a group activity requires compromise. We’re conditioned to feel uncomfortable when we are alone in a public place, and we are instantly noticed when we lack the company that others have. Due to this fear of standing out, we avoid doing certain things if we are alone. This results in us missing out on experiences that we should have had, and that’s truly a shame.

We’re told that staying in for a private night alone is introverted behavior and it definitely is, but why does the word “introvert” have such a negative connotation attached to it? Why does being around other people constitute as a more efficient use of one’s time than spending a night alone reading a book? The most important thing, after all, is the experience that a person has; the company of others is not always necessary once you learn to embrace your own.

Having the ability to spend time with the people in your life is truly a blessing, and each moment with them should be appreciated due to its finite nature; however, it is also important to embrace your own company and accept yourself as an individual. You are allowed to engage in the activities that you wish to do alone without feeling conscious.

Sitting alone at a lunch table used to be a big fear for some people in high school, but things are different in college. As a college student, you acknowledge that a minute to oneself is a treasure, a moment of peace used to get your things together and enjoy some tranquility. The same, however, applies in any situation; you are allowed to treat yourself to a meal, watch a movie, go on a shopping spree, or do anything that you want alone. As great as company can be, you always have the option of doing the things you love and enjoying the experience for yourself.

When you learn to appreciate your own company, it becomes easier to enjoy every minute of your life, not just the special events where you are surrounded by other people. Enjoying your own company means finding joy in a peaceful night with no one but yourself. It means treating yourself to ice cream because you want it in that moment. Embracing your time alone means spending more time enjoying music than searching through your phone contacts in search of someone to go with you to a music event.

Spend as much time as you can with your friends and your family and try new things with them, of course! Just don’t feel like you can’t enjoy something you want to do if someone else isn’t with you. You are your own person and you deserve to enjoy all of the great things that the world has to offer, with or without the people around you.