Sometimes, it's good to be alone!
Sometimes, it's good to be in a quiet zone.
If you're surrounded by people all the time, it's hard to develop an original thought, just because you're constantly surrounded by people giving you inputs into your head! In such situations, people tend to just repeat what they think the other people around them want to hear.
But when you're alone with your thoughts, your mind becomes more clear. You have time to process all that is in your brain without interference from anyone.
We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly - spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.Susan L. Taylor
Sometimes, many times, very important ideas come into my mind when I'm alone with my thoughts.
Even something like "what is my next direction in life?"
That was the case back in 2012 when I had the day off and I was walking around and the thought appeared: "I should consider enrolling in UHM's Library & Information Science program so that I can eventually become a full-time librarian".
That thought (which I kinda sorta wished came to my mind a few years earlier) changed the trajectory of my life for the following years, leading up to this year starting a full-time library job in a public middle school.
However, it doesn't always have to be that life-altering.
Just feeling the benefits of being alone with your thoughts in a relatively quiet place is more than enough to help you psychologically.
Being that I live alone in a studio apartment, I do have more opportunities to be alone with my thoughts than people who don't have their own room to themselves. So yes, I acknowledge that I am writing this from a privileged position.
Even then, it's good to be outdoors and feel the fresh air when being alone with my thoughts.
I like being in public parks when there aren't that many other people around.
I like walking near streams, ponds and other bodies of flowing water when there aren't that many other people around.
And when classes aren't in session, there is peace & quiet at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa campus, which has lots of green space, is near a stream and (lucky for me) near my home.
I'm the type that I can go days without interacting with people and it doesn't bother me.
I even like to do repetitive tasks (like organizing items) without much interaction, and it doesn't bother me. As long as there are no accidents or technical difficulties that require the assistance of someone who isn't there.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a 24-7 recluse.
Yes, I have friends, I just don't feel the need to roll with a posse 24-7! Those who say "you don't have friends" are wusses who are afraid to be alone!
I do like meeting new acquaintances, and I do share opinions at meetings. I also like to volunteer in the community (especially for the Friends of the Library, for whom I help out at booksales). I also like public events, including but not limited to UH sports games, nightclubs, block parties & more.
But even "The Life Of The Party" must take a break from all that and find some time to be alone with one's thoughts.
You can learn more about the benefits of being alone with your thoughts by watching my YouTube video "It's Good to Be Alone". The video is less than 5 minutes.
"It's Good to Be Alone"
PS: Pablo the Mad Tiger Warrior will soon have an instrumental album filled with quiet, relaxing tracks. Details coming soon!
