independence

Living alone is tough and your emotions can easily go up and down when living alone. But I learned that there’s also many advantages as well.

The difficulty of breaking into a new city is a well-shared sentiment, regardless of where you are in your life. But, fortune tends to favor the brave, and I’d like to encourage everyone to venture out to unfamiliarity (really good pasta is waiting for you).

It can be easy to get used to always being with people. Being surrounded by people has its benefits, but I have found that a little bit of intentional solitude has been beneficial for my mental health.

There are moments when the loud sounds reverberating off of the colorful homes onto the cracked pavements of the lively Berkeley streets can make the quiet in my roommate-free apartment that much quieter. 

When we place our whole sense of self on external relationships, we lose sight of who we truly are as a person. For that reason, it’s important to take yourself out on a solo date and grow more intimately connected to your true self. 

Both of my parents are doctors, so several aspects of my life have been affected by being surrounded by people who practice medicine.

What matters is that we know how to build a complete self in singlehood. A romantic relationship is a beautiful addition to our world, not a solution.

Being alone couldn’t be further from being lonely. After all, you’re the one person who’s around during the good and the bad.