How to be okay with being alone?
The story
It's kinda funny when you're the only single dude in a sea of couples. Feels like I'm the odd man out. I'm 31, and while my mates are all wrapped up in their romantic dramas, I'm left watching from the sidelines. Never had a girlfriend, never been on a proper date. People look at me like I should be in some sort of crisis, but honestly, I'm just trying to figure out how to be okay with flying solo. Like, is there a manual for this? Society loves to shove the idea of love down our throats, but it's not like I'm missing a limb or something just because I'm not in love. They say everyone's journey is different, but when you're the last single soldier, you start questioning if their "journey" line is just a polite way to say, "Bro, you're screwed."
Now let's get real. Alone isn't the end of the world, though. There's this article I read once; author's name escapes me, but they mentioned how the ability to enjoy your own company is an underrated skill. So, I’m trying to hunt down that “enjoying-my-own-company” skill myself. They say solitude builds character or some crap like that. I mean, seriously, it’s not like I’m some antisocial weirdo. I've got my stuff sorted—job, hobbies, and a half-decent social life, but I’m missing that one box everyone else has ticked. You ever sit at a dinner table alone while everyone else is paired off? Doesn't it make you wanna scream, "What the hell went wrong, and where was I when everyone else was figuring out this relationship stuff?" 😤
The comparisons are a killer, though. Scrolling through Instagram, seeing my friends' bae-this and boo-that posts, sometimes I want to throw my phone into the ocean. But then there are days when I genuinely enjoy not having to answer to anyone. Personal anecdote: came back from a long shift once, made the world's nastiest greasy burger, plopped down to binge-watch Netflix for hours. My buddies couldn’t do that without getting an earful from their partners. Freedom is just a term thrown around, but for single guys like me, it's reality. Am I missing out on romantic getaways and couple goals, or am I living my best life without any chains? There's no bias here; just facts about different lifestyles.
Still, there’s this nagging feeling sometimes. Wondering if maybe, just maybe, something's wrong with me. I know it’s dumb as hell, but I can’t shake it off. It’s like this internal battle of wanting what they have but not fully committing to it. Healthy? Debatable; Necessary? Might just be. But these feelings of doubt and solitude are part of the human experience, or so the self-help books keep saying. I’m not searching for sympathy or solutions; just venting out loud, trying to find my footing on this solo adventure. So, dear reader, if you’ve got the magic formula for being cool with solitude, I’m all ears. Or perhaps we're in the same boat, navigating through this solo life without a compass but making the most of what we’ve got.
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Points of view
Hey dude, your post hits close to home, big time! It's kinda refreshing to hear someone get real about this stuff; honestly feel like I'm nodding along the whole way 😅 I mean, who made the rule that we gotta be in a relationship to be complete, right? I've been solo for a while now and yeah, friends giving me the side-eye sometimes like I'm from another planet, but like, it’s cool not having to explain yourself or share your fries all the time 😂
The bit about loving your own company? Spot on, man. Took me a while, but I'm getting to that place too. I started trying new things, like hiking; opened my mind, ya know? Plus, crashing on an epic burger binge with Netflix sounds like an absolute vibe! No shame or rushing around; it’s golden.
So yeah, there are those doubting moments, when you can’t help but wonder if the folks paired up are in on some big secret. But honestly, every path’s got some bumps; being single or with someone. Keep rocking your journey, bro; I think solo’s low-key underrated. 💪
man, i feel you completely on this! it's wild how society makes it seem like being single is some kind of glitch in the system. ever notice how everyone acts like if you're not in a relationship, you're missing some critical software update??? it's totally relatable, but so unfair to those of us taking our time.
you mentioned never having been on a proper date; what does a “proper” date even mean??! everyone’s got their own version, right? it's all about what makes you feel good, not some standard checklist.
been single a while myself, and it's refreshing to not have to stick to one constant narrative. i get how it feels like you're sidelined sometimes, but there’s something amazing about exploring your life without constraints; it's like unrestricted access to your own bandwidth; always believe there's more to personal growth than just ticking the relationship box! 😊
i hear you, but gotta say, it sounds like you’re viewing the whole single thing a bit negatively. "everyone's journey is different," and honestly, that line holds some truth. not everyone needs to follow the same script; relationships aren’t always the ultimate objective. 🤷♂️
sure, standing out as the single guy might feel isolating. have you thought maybe society's pushing this coupling agenda but missing that relationships can be more work than they seem? there's real value in building your own narrative without outside pressures.
reflect on what really enriches your life. solitude isn't always a deficiency; it's freedom. the question is, do you value autonomy over conformity? relationships might not be the definitive measure of success or happiness. sometimes it’s about redefining what truly matters to you.
Absolutely spot-on, man! Society really does push the whole "couples are better" agenda, and it's a load of crap. Being single isn't a disease. I’ve been flyin’ solo for a while now, and guess what? It ain't so bad.
That ‘enjoying your own company’ thing is legit. I found peace in doing my own thing without somebody breathing down my neck. You mentioned greasy burgers and Netflix? Iconic move right there; freedom at its finest.
"Comparison is the thief of joy," right? Sure, paired-up life looks great on social, but half those posts are just for show. No need to rush into something just cause others are. Think of this as livin’ life on your own terms. Keep now enjoying the ride and screw the norms! 💥
man, i totally get where you're coming from; it's frustrating how society acts like being single is some kind of system anomaly. "everyone's journey is different," they say, but it feels like that’s just a line to keep us compliant. 🤔 ever feel like you're the only one who missed the dating crash course? it's ridiculous.
society constructs this relationship hierarchy, pushing the narrative that flying solo is a deviation, when honestly, it’s just another standard operating procedure. sure, solitude is supposed to build character, but what about when that solitude feels more like isolation? i once read something about "absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence," and it makes you think; what if we’re just not seeing what others are missing out on?
trust me, you’re not malfunctioning; the system's just designed to make us all feel that way; those relationship "goals" clogging up the timeline are just highlight reels; hang in there, bro; keep being yourself and questioning the crap they feed us. 🙄
totally get what you're saying here; being the single guy in a crowd of couples can feel like you're the odd one out, but isn’t it just another lifestyle choice? you mentioned, "everyone's journey is different," and that's so true; still, at times, it feels like just a comforting cliché more than anything else.
society’s obsession with coupling up often ignores the fact that personal and professional development can be equally fulfilling. sure, there's this ongoing narrative that being single equates to missing out on something, but who's to say it's better to follow the prescribed relationship trajectory?
the enjoyment of one's own company is often underrated, like you noted, though it's not always as transformative as they claim. solitude might work wonders for some, while for others, it can feel like a repetitive loop. the real question isn’t about what’s right or wrong but rather how each of us defines our state of being fulfilled. would you say that the grass might seem greener on the other side but can equally be satisfying on either side with the right mindset?
i totally get where you're coming from! being the single guy surrounded by couples can feel super alienating 😅 it’s like society wants us to fit into this neatly packaged relationship box, and it’s frustrating.
i’ve been flying solo for a while too, and honestly, sometimes it does make you question what’s wrong. like, why does it feel like everyone else has got it all figured out? for real, those couple goals clogging up my feed can be overwhelming; you can't help but wonder if there's a secret manual everyone else got!
but you know, there’s this underrated freedom in not having to compromise every decision. you can live life on your own terms, explore your interests without any constraints; not gonna lie, it’s quite liberating. hang in there, you’re not alone in this feeling!!!
absolutely relate to your experience! the societal pressure to pair up can be overwhelming and often makes those of us flying solo feel like anomalies 😓. it's intriguing how you mention "solitude builds character," because there's a lot of truth in that perspective, even if it doesn’t always feel comforting.
personally, i find there’s a strange dichotomy in being single; on one hand, there's freedom and autonomy, but on the other, it sometimes feels like there's a missing component. like you, i’ve scrolled through countless "bae-this" and "boo-that" posts, and it does create a sense of doubt about our paths.
but there's real value in not rushing into what may not be the right fit just to tick a societal box. "everyone's journey is different," and that diversity in life paths makes the world a richer place; you just have to find comfort in your own narrative, despite the external noise. enjoy your solo adventures, because they are uniquely yours!!