I believe that the world is made up of two types of people - those who dislike being on their own and those who constantly crave it.
Before you think I sound like a recluse, you’ll have to take my word for it that I’m not. In fact, I thrive on my connection to others. I really come alive when I am with someone who interests me, who excites me, who makes me laugh, who listens to me or who needs me to listen to them. I’m quite curious about people and find them fascinating and alluring. When I choose to be in the company of others, I am all in, I’m fully present and committed to them, in that time.
It wasn’t always this way. I think of my life in two halves when it comes to this topic. For the first half, I really hated being on my own and obsessively avoided it. I was convinced that being on my own was akin to admitting that nobody wanted to spend time with me. Because of all that I was lacking in myself, I relentlessly sought validation from others and so the idea of being on my own, let alone enjoying it, was alien to me. I can see now that I was, in fact, very needy.
These days, I continue to know the importance of human connection, but I now also possess a greater appreciation of going internally for the answers. Having done the work, and invested so much time on myself, I find that I like myself so much more now than I have ever done before. And, because I like myself more, it follows that I enjoy spending time on my own in equal measure.