Why Spending Time Alone is a Gift

Written by Lili Androsch, Dec 2024

I exist as I am, that is enough, If no other in the world be aware I sit content, And if each and all be aware I sit content. (Walt Whitman, 1891-92)

Learning to be comfortable with being alone is a journey. Many of us find it to be a challenging one. There's often a sense of discomfort or even shame associated with being alone — like eating alone at a restaurant or spending an evening in your own company and not going out. But, as Walt Whitman beautifully expresses in his poem Song of Myself, the simple existence of you is enough. According to him the most important part about this journey is recognizing that solitude is not the same thing as loneliness.

In the beginning, solitude may feel like loneliness, but there's an important distinction to be made. What loneliness implies is a sense of lack, a yearning for connection. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of fullness — a space for you. A space where you can nurture your individuality. Where you can embrace your uniqueness and form a connection with yourself. The thought of doing things by yourself can be comfortable. So maybe it helps to think of it as doing things with yourself.

We’re often so focused on external validation that spending time alone can feel uncomfortable. But to truly be at peace with being alone, you must first recognize that it is a gift — an opportunity to get to know yourself without the distractions of the world. It's about embracing the "me-time" to explore what you love, what drives you, and what makes you feel alive.

By building a relationship with yourself, you begin to find solace in your own company. Solitude becomes not something to avoid but something to cherish. It’s not about escaping the world but about truly discovering your place within it — in your own way.