I am now in a water park down south
surrounded by wakeboarding aficionados. But I am not here to do the same. So
why am I here? Because I know nobody and no one knows me. Perfect place for me
to be alone, think, crack my brain to write this and be spared from the,
sometimes, very tiring need for social interaction. Tiring I say? Yes. Why?
Because I think most people would agree that maintaining a sane status in this
very interdependent earth is measured by constantly being accompanied by people
wherever you maybe.
Personally, I have the need to be regularly
separated from the world and suspend the endless search to find the right
people to be with. A group of friends who share the same interest as you, a
boyfriend or a girlfriend who can try new things with you, that one and only
friend who thinks cool of something while everybody else finds it ridiculous,
your family to celebrate special occasions with or workmates who you share the
same stress levels over corporate slavery. But who else is fit for the job? Me.
Coz I know what movies I really want to watch. I know the staples. I know which
places I’m dying to go to and the list could go on.
I want to be the first person to try a new
cuisine, celebrate my birthday with people I don’t know, in a foreign land. I
love to drink with friends but what is it like to drink with certified beer
bums like the Germans? I want to be the first customer in a newly opened place
that people have been raving to go to. I want to go to all the music festivals
there is and feel good music of each instrument in my veins, with my eyes
closed. I dream of being an authority in movie and literature reviews. But not
everybody may have the time to watch and read this stuff with me, right? And a
whole lot more. I want to have a zero degree ice cold beer and smoke some
cigarettes while proactively looking around for interesting people around and
observe how they behave. It’s sounds berry berry bad ass to me, you know.
So here are 10 Things I highly recommend
for me-times:
1.
Go shopping. Inclusive of window shopping so, no pressure.
2.
Watch a movie alone. Please choose an aisle seat. Please. Never
sandwich yourself.
3.
Travel to a place you’ve never been. Choose wisely.
4.
Be in a place you know but no one knows. I won’t tell you mine.
5.
Observe every people you see and appreciate the details of the
place where you’re in. Including the very disturbing mole of the waiter in front
of me.
6.
A fully charged camera and/or phone and prepare a playlist you
never get tired of. *Armi Millare sings in the background*
7.
Bring a good book. Please not Fifty ShadesJ
8.
Research on how to commute to farther places. Self explanatory.
9.
Don’t wear something generic. Be adventurous, they’ll never see
you again.
…But I should tell you upfront, this is not
a serious case of an anti social behavior.
I just think that everyone should have the
time to be attuned to their real self. To do things that only you planned and only
you can make it happen. As I write this, I instantly ordered fish and chips as
soon as the waitress gave me the menu. Looking back, all my solo trips to
places where I want to write, this has been the usual food parallel to my busy
typing fingers. So I guess, if I walk around and someone asks me what my
favorite food is, I can respond very quickly. Isn’t that a time saver? J
Let’s deep dive. Two things I never understood
for the longest time: Why are people afraid of being alone? and; Why are people
judging those who spend time on their own? My answer to the first is the
second. My answer to the second is the first plus a bag of insecurity. The
unacknowledged fact of being envious of people who can stand to be by themselves
forms the defense mechanism of picking on them instead. And this behavior forms
the notion that the sole idea of it is outlandish and you should never be in
that position.
My take? Liberate yourself from dependency.
Most pain people feel is because of too much attachment. Eighty percent of the tears
are because we were left alone and only 20% is because they did not choose to stay.
The latter is one third each of bitterness, anger and pride.
People come and go.
People who choose to stay must be taken
care of.
People who choose to leave must be set
free.
At the end of the day, the last person you
want to lose is yourself. Do not be derailed. Take a deep breath of positive
vibes and go to tip #10:
Go to a restaurant, smile and say “Table
for one, please”
*Credits to Google for the pictures :)*