All by myself
Do you like to go do things by yourself?
Eat out, take a class, see a movie, go to a race, whatever?
A few weeks ago someone said to me that they thought it would be odd to see a movie in the theater by themself. I responded that I didn’t think that was odd, and that I’ve done it before and quite enjoyed it! (Okay, okay, I know saying I’d do something doesn’t make it not odd, ha ha).
There’s nothing wrong with being one way or the other – that’s just how you are! But I have to admit, I enjoy doing many things solo and figuring stuff out on my own so much that I sometimes feel bad for people who don’t do something they really want to because they’d have to do it alone.
And I don’t do everything alone! In fact, I got pretty lonely when I lived in Rome by myself for a few months. I’ve appreciated running WITH people lately. It’s fun to go to movies with friends, too.
Anyway… I’m just thinking how grateful I am today to get out of the office and eat by myself, and read a bit. Sometimes I do things alone for the breather, and come back recharged.
Themocracy
I can be very introverted and I really enjoy doing things alone. Some of my favorite travel experiences were when I was traveling solo. There’s much more freedom to do what you want, when you want, at the pace you want. I like running alone, both in training and for races. And when Adam is out of town I enjoy having the place to myself. I feel like I so rarely have the opportunity to just think in peace, so those opportunities when I can are very appreciated!!!
Yes! When I was in SLC it was so nice to do what I wanted, at my pace! It felt so relaxing.
If I waited on someone to do something with me, I’d never do anything! I’ve even taken two vacations by myself–Myrtle Beach and St. Maarten–just because nobody could go with me. Damned if I’m gonna sit at home just because someone ELSE can’t go!
That is awesome!!!!!!
I love doing things by myself because I can do whatever I want at whatever pace I want. When I was travelling a lot for work, most of the other consultants went out to every meal together. But, I needed a break from them and from work talk, so I often opted to do my own thing.
I’ve gotten worse at this as I’ve gotten older but I do enjoy doing some things alone. It’s been a while but I spent many days skiing by myself and quite enjoyed it! I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a movie alone but I’ve heard of other people who enjoy it just fine.
I’m pretty introverted so I LOVE doing things by myself. (I actually get cranky if I don’t get any alone time.) It is really refreshing to spend time by yourself. Running can be pretty lonely if you do a lot of it by yourself, though. I’m glad you were able to find some time to reconnect with yourself!
YES! I get cranky, too. Sigh. Usually when I travel with others, I need some time to myself. Except when I go see my friends that I just saw, because we are all able to have quiet time together.
I like to eat lunch alone sometimes at work, its nice. I like to read at lunch too and agree its a nice way to break up the day. I like to run alone but also love running with friends. I have never been to a movie alone and don’t know if I would ever. Being an only child, I have done a lot of things alone and its not bad.
I’ve never gone to a movie solo but I wouldn’t hesitate if I really wanted to see something. I love being alone. Sometimes I have to force myself to be more social and then I have such a great time I vow to do more with friends. Traveling alone is the bomb. I have a sister who craves social interaction to the point she almost “can’t” be alone. Funny how genes work.
That IS interesting that your sister is like that and you are not! Does it make you nuts? LOL.
I am alone ALL DAY at my office which sometimes drives me crazy. But I don’t mind taking a fitness class by myself or attending an event I really want to go to if I don’t have anyone to go with. I didn’t used to be as comfortable with it but I’m much better now. I realized I couldn’t let life pass me by waiting for someone to do the same things I wanted to do.
Although, there are some things that are better shared with another person. I think going to a new restaurant or sometimes traveling is more fun when you’re with someone who can appreciate it just as much as you.
Do you think your office will ever go to a more open setup so people have more interaction? Or will a private office always be a very important thing, there? I imagine it’s the latter 😉
People love having their own offices here. So much so that we even enclosed the one cubicle area we have so that the three people who work in there can have a door to close!
I used to run by myself. All the time…then I met you and other CRB- woo hoo! I still like to run on my own when I just want to listen to music or relieve some stress…and I always eat lunch by myself. At my desk. Super bad habit but I feel like it’s the office norm unfortunately 🙁
So much work to do that people eat at their desk? What is your cafeteria like? When I bring lunch, I eat at my desk, too. Lately, I force myself to get out, though!
I do a lot of things on my own! I’m an only child so I kinda thrive on my “me” time and lived alone for four years so I got used to being by myself even more.
One of my favorite things about Paris was all the people eating lunch alone, just enjoying the people watching and/or a book. So cool!
And that would be an AWESOME place to people watch! 🙂
I don’t mind doing stuff alone. I’ve gone to the movies alone, but I have yet to go to a bar or restaurant alone. I’ve taken classes “alone” but not really because there were other people in the class. I have yet to travel alone. I’ve had moments though where I wouldn’t mind the solitude of it, maybe just a weekend at a B&B somewhere pretty.
I’ve never lived alone, and sometimes I totally see the appeal of it! I did spend a lot of time alone in our apartment when Robert first enlisted though. Combined it was about 7 months, although there was the rare weekend when he came home. But it was still “our” place.
Interesting to see people’s responses. I really don’t like to be lonely in my life but I definitely enjoy doing stuff alone. I’ve gone to the movies alone quite a few times, particularly when I really wanted to see something like Twilight where I wanted to get into it but knew other people would dislike it or make fun of it. I have even gone to rock concerts alone for that reason. Sometimes when I travel for work I will go out for a meal at a $$$ restaurant by myself because I want to check out a foodie restaurant in that city more than I want to just go someplace random with a group. Gosh, is this making me sound antisocial?
Your second sentence makes me think maybe I have written an alone vs lonely post before. Or maybe just read that alone does not = lonely, somewhere 😉
And no, it doesn’t make you sound antisocial. To me, anyway! LOL! Are you already looking at restaurants for your Chicago trip?!
I crave my alone time in a big way! I LOVE being by myself–maybe that is why I run a lot??? I always find it a bit strange when everyone runs races with all of their friends because I totally love being alone with my thoughts during a race. But I get it, too! Friends are fun, races are fun! I think traveling a lot and living out of a backpack right after college (Hello Peace Corps!) really taught me to appreciate alone time and to be independent.
As an only child, I am no stranger to being alone. I get recharged sometimes from it. That said, I really like being around people…especially people I like 🙂
I love doing things by myself (in fact I am going to a museum by myself later today) and I definitely need my alone time or I feel depleted! I’ve always been really independent.
I did a lot of things by myself when I lived in Sandusky because I had odd hours and not a lot of friends. I went to movies, to restaurants, etc. It was hard at first but I got over it. Now, I sometimes take a random day off so I can go to the gym, out to lunch, shopping – whatever – by myself. It’s nice. Really nice.
I love to do things alone. I often see matinees alone if I have free time (and no one wants to see the movie with me) Not at night, because I would feel like a loser 😉 I have taken a bunch of spa trips alone and love that. Depending on the place, I don’t mind eating alone – more casual restaurants and bars. I also don’t mind going to a gym class or race alone as I always meet people while doing those things! It is funny because I am very extroverted on the outside but am pretty introverted on the inside 🙂
LOL! Wait, so why would going to a movie solo at night make you feel like a loser? And is it the same for non-casual restaurants/bars? 😛
I tried to go back and edit that :p Oops! Well… I have a personal double standard. At night I feel like everyone is with friends/on a date and I would likely not go alone b/c I would feel awkward. For eating out at night alone, I would likely eat at a casual place or at a bar. If I am home, I would be less likely to eat out alone but when I travel alone I do. (I thought I would get comments on being introverted!)
I do all sorts of things by myself and not because i am single. I actually prefer to go to my book conventions by myself because it forces me to meet people. I like going to dinner with a book about once a week. It is my moments away 🙂
I love the way you put that. 🙂 I spend a lot of time with my hubby and a lot of time at work with colleagues, so it is nice to have “moments away.” A book can be a great date.
I do things by myself all the time and don’t mind a bit! It’s a pretty liberating feeling actually 🙂
And I agree with the feeling bad for people who refuse to do things alone. I have a friend/coworker who pretty much won’t do anything outside of work alone (she relies on her husband or a friend to be company for EVERYTHING–gym, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, errands. She will even tell you if she doesn’t have company she won’t do it. In my head I’m thinking “you are 31!!! This is pathetic!” but I try really hard just to be respectful because it sounds like some seriously undiagnosed anxiety issued are at work here.
I would be having the same reaction 🙁 And man. Sometimes I just want to do errands by myself!
I love to be alone. I’m weird though. (And maybe you are too? hahaha)
I used to car pool with someone, then I kinda pushed them out so I could be alone in my car going to and from clinical. I need that time to process the day, and my days lately have been really emotionally stressing.
I like the quiet and being alone.
According to the comments, it seems you and I are not weird… none of the people I know who read this blog and don’t like doing things alone commented. I hope I didn’t make them feel like they couldn’t.
Oh gosh. Yeah. I used to ride the train with someone and it was just too much to chat all day, after being social all day in the office!
This will come as a surprise to most (*sarcasm*) but I’m a total loner. I really enjoy doing things by myself; in fact, I have an entire bucket list of things I want to do solo (like going out to eat, seeing a movie, traveling <— esp. traveling). I think it's so important to get comfortable with yourself before you can get comfortable with anyone else. I do think I need to work on being more social though because at this point I'm a bit too comfortable being alone (but not lonely!). Great post as usual…you always get me thinking!
That is an awesome list! To where do you think you want to travel?
I agree that you should be comfortable by yourself! I knew someone in college who really defined themself by their relationship, and it made me worry about how they would be if they were ever “alone.”
Thank you! 🙂
I’m dying to go to Europe solo, but I would settle for someplace within the U.S. as a stepping stone at least. Most people think I’m nuts for wanting to Euro-travel solo but it sounds so enlightening and appealing to me!
I definitely have friends who are notorious daters and simply hop around between relationships from fear of being alone. I worry too…it’s so important to know how to be emotionally independent in life!
I do like eating by myself sometimes because I can really focus on what I’m eating and not shovel all the food in my mouth while being distracted. (Sigh) I don’t go to movies alone, which is weird because if I’m with someone, it’s not like I can talk during the movie anyway! I do like watching movies home alone, but I’m usually doing something like knitting at the same time.
We have been going to movies with friends lately, and I am like “This is fun, but it’s not like we are catching up or anything!” Ha ha. Everyone should go alone so people STFU during movies. We saw a 7:00 showing of RoboCop last night with lots of young kids there… and babies! Sigh. Haha.