When was the last time you spent time alone – like really alone, not with your parents, significant other, friends, roommates?
It sounds relaxing and soothing to some degree – but also can be a terrifying thought. As someone who is always usually surrounded by people, whether it’s coworkers, my parents, siblings, my significant other – moving across the country and into my own place I’ve had to learn to “be alone.” Long distance has been really difficult for me – and I won’t sugar coat it and say that I haven’t struggled. I got to some dark places mentally with depression due to the distance – I always had a best friend I could do something with, even if my other friends couldn’t make it out. But was I leaning on a crutch? I felt like my happiness had become dependent on my significant other, and now that we are doing long distance for the time being – I found myself always miserable. Alas, I am finally feeling a bit better, once I had to accept and learn how to be alone. The month of June was a rather difficult month for me – I rarely hung out with friends, as everyone seemed to be really busy with plans, except for me. I really struggled with the fact that multiple Saturday nights in a row, I didn’t have anything to do. Netflix marathon once again.
One Saturday I got tired of sitting at home. After several failed attempts at text plans, I decided I was going to go out and do things by myself. I went for a walk by a park near my apartment, came across a beautiful rose garden where I sat and did some sketching, and then I decided I would go watch a movie I really wanted to see. I drove myself to the theater area early, and found a nice restaurant to get dinner and a drink. I was taking myself out on a date, it was great. I then went and watched Deadpool 2, and honestly I had fun. I didn’t need someone else to be there for me to have a good time. After that day, I realized I can be happy on my own, and not feel like it’s not worth doing things because I don’t have anyone else to do it with me. Since then, I’ve taken myself out to dinner at sushi restaurants, because, well, I wanted sushi!
I felt like that was a learning experience I had to go through – to learn how to be happy on my own, and not let me define my self worth by whether my friends could make it or not. As much as it sucked, I feel like a better person and have grown through that experience. Now I feel like I finally have a set group people I hang out with more regularly, and it just took some time to find my regular crew/group.
Anyway, here is a casual outfit I wear to work, and I think it’s a perfect summer outfit for cooler nights. The flowy top with the peekaboo shoulder cut out and lace/flowy fabric is perfectly flirty, from Oasis. I also regularly wear these dark wash jeans from American Eagle – my go to pants. I paired the outfit with pretty comfy sandals, also from American Eagle, or can glam it up with these strappy black heels I got from JustFab – I love them! And they’re comfortable! I’ve actually worn them to go out clubbing!
Have you spent time alone or taken yourself out to a movie or dinner on your own? Let me know what you have done on your own, and if you haven’t tried it – I highly recommend it. You might surprise yourself at how content you are doing what you want, when you want 🙂 Let me know in the comments below.
xo
Andrea
