Spending time by yourself is important to your own mental health and happiness.
I get that some people like being alone more than other people. Some people even hate spending any extended period of time by themselves. We all have our preferences and they prefer to always have a friend with them, even if they are just sitting around doing nothing. To those people, don't assume that I just don't want to be around you when I don't invite you with me to run errands with me. I'm not mad at you and you aren't being excluded for any other reason than just me wanting to go alone. I want some time to myself and what better way to do that than going for a drive by yourself to run errands?
I'm not defective for liking alone time. This does not mean that I have trouble making friends or getting along with people. This does not mean that I am an angry person or that I am mean. I don't always want to be by myself, I know how to spend time with other people. I have many great friends and family that I do LOVE to see and spend quality time with. I'm not a hermit, I know how to socialize and I'm actually quite good at it. I am a normal person that hangs out with friends, participates in annoying group messages, and has a social media addiction (just like everyone else). I'm a functioning, productive member of society who just happens to enjoy time spent without other people around. It's not so weird.
I'm not depressed or anxious and I don't need help from you. I don't need to "cheer up". I'm not depressed because I want to stay home alone some nights. Don't be alarmed if I say not to go to the bar with you one night. Yes, I like to go out but I also like to stay in every now and then and it's not a big deal. Staying in by myself from time to time actually HELPS my mental health because it is something that I enjoy doing. Yes, I could go out with you and grab some beers or see a movie and I would probably have fun doing that. But I know what I need for me to be happy in the long run and sometimes it is sitting on my couch, cooking and baking food that I like for myself, watching my favorite shows, and possibly cuddling with my pets. It's like treating myself to a date night that is everything that I love and want to do and not making compromises. Who knows what I want better than myself? No one.
So to my friends and family, I love you all and I love seeing you. I thoroughly enjoy the time we spend together. But I also thoroughly enjoy staying home alone sometimes, and that is okay.
