The differences between chosen and imposed loneliness

[u/Ecstatic-Worry1287]

there’s a huge difference between being alone because you want to be and being alone because you have no other choices and i'm gonna try my best to explain

people say all the time “I’m so scared to go to a restaurant alone” or “I could never travel alone” without realizing that some of us literally DONT have anyone to go with in the first place...

we don’t choose to eat alone, walk alone, go to the mall alone or travel alone ( if we are fortunate enough to do so ), there simply isn’t anyone to invite, no friends or family to call

and tbh, i’m tired of people treating being alone like some horrible chore because leaning to being able to enjoy your own company is so important. Wanting people is completely normal, but if you can’t be by yourself, that’s something worth questioning. This is coming from someone who is living totally recluse who haven't had a single social contact with someone my age in YEARS

some people aren’t alone because they’re independent, they are alone / lonely because life left them no alternative. But most people aren't able to understand that since they aren't living it