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Trade “Loneliness” For “Aloneness”
and make the most of it.
Loneliness really is the mark of our times. According to a US nationwide Cigna study, over 50% of Americans suffer from some form of subjective feelings of loneliness.
So it seems justified to say: If you feel alone, you are… not alone.
I have experienced a lot of alone time over the past three years since I finished university and embarked on this journey called adulthood. Some of that time alone was intentional — and some was not.
The latter usually sparked feelings of loneliness.
Coming from a family that sticks together no matter what — sometimes to an extent which annoys to me — this amount of alone time was not what I observed at home as a kid. It almost wasn’t normal. It seemed weird, but at the same time extraordinary, to spend so many consecutive days on my own — for example, as I travelled or moved to another country.
With time, I started seeing that this abundant alone time was inevitable for my growth. It was addictive, comforting — and it served me well.
If you feel lonely, I encourage you to trade that loneliness for “aloneness.” While the former may overwhelm or tear you down, the latter has the power to change your life.
