I moved to New York over a year ago.(August of 2015!) I still can’t believe how quickly the time has passed, and am also shocked by the fact that I’ve been living on my own for this long! How I haven’t managed to set something on fire in my building yet, is beyond me. (But, I have set off the fire-alarm multiple times due to the roadblocks I’ve encountered while trying to follow Pinterest recipes. (Talk about major #pinterestfail.)
I had never lived alone until last year. I lived at home with my family for the majority of my life before college, then switched to a sorority dorm full of girls during my years at university, and finally lived overseas with my ex after graduating. So…now that I’ve had some time being on my own, I’ve learned quite a few things along the way!
1. You can be as messy or as clean as you want to be.
I’m a complete neat freak. (Almost to the extreme.) When I was in college, I wouldn’t leave my dorm room without making my bed every morning, and most of my sorority sisters would laugh at me. I definitely think I got this from my mom… she would always keep our house in Texas looking immaculate. It was always so clean, beautiful, and inviting. (And still is to this day, which is why I LOVE going home!) Everything is easy to find, and she always has fresh blooms and something baking, which makes us always ready for any unexpected guests. I used to love that feeling, and took these habits with me when I moved into my own little place.
2. What is a bedtime?
“Lights out early please because I’ve got class in the a.m.”, or “I can’t be up late tonight because I have to train for soccer tomorrow”, or “please lower the volume on the t.v. because I really need to prep for this meeting”… these are all things I used to hear. And don’t anymore. 🙂 If you feel like partying until 3am in your favorite sweats with Bieber and cookie dough… YAS GIRL. Go on with your bad self.
3. Dinner can be at any hour. And you can eat whatever you want.
Being on my own schedule for dinner most nights, is pretty amazing. Especially since I LOVE FOOD so much. Just the other night, I was still hungry at around 10:30pm, had a really long day and thought… I can have another dinner right now. And I did just that! I ordered my ‘second dinner’ of the night (The Meatball Shop to be exact), and made myself a stiff drink! #becausedrinkingaloneisfun
4. Making your space your own.
One of my favorite things since living alone has been making my space my own, and having it feel like home. I always dreamed of decorating my very own apartment. How I wanted it to look, what colors I wanted to use, patterns, textures, and having candles, flowers, & books everywhere! I love being able to have a space that’s all me in every way.
5. You talk to yourself. A lot.
One evening…while organizing my closets, and cleaning my little studio, I actually caught myself talking to MYSELF. I don’t know if I’m slowly losing my mind (because it’s possible), or if I’m trying to fill the quiet, but it’s definitely something that will happen when you live alone. I like to think of it as a great way of collecting my thoughts.
6. You can have mini-concerts in your apt.
I love to listen to music, and also love to sing. When you’re alone, you can blast whatever song you want to depending on whatever mood your in. If you’re feeling happy & want to dance around your apt. listening to JT’s ‘SexyBack’ or Beyonce’s ‘Flawless’ or need to cry your eyes out to anything Adele… it’s a judge free zone.
7. The TV is ALL YOURS. Amen.
If I want to binge Gilmore Girls on Netflix, or catch up on the Bachelor … I CAN. And, if one night I feel like filling my evening with the latest from The Kardashians and keeping up with them, while also switching between the news, and ‘Say Yes to the Dress’, guess what doll… I CAN. Being the queen of the remote is a very great thing.
8. Pants are optional.
In my apartment… pants are always optional. Meaning… I normally don’t wear them. I don’t have to worry about anyone running in or roommates bringing by their ‘boo thangs’. I can just BE, and happily wear whatever I want to around the house. This is freedom at it’s finest.
9. You’ll quickly discover whether you’re an introvert or extrovert.
I’ve always considered myself an outgoing and active person that loves to stay busy, but I’ve learned that I re-charge best whenever I’m alone. While I love spending time with friends, attending blog events, and happy hours with co-workers… I’ve also found that I need those evenings alone in my apartment to re-group. – Having this as an option is so refreshing.
10. Space to be ME.
I’ve learned so much about myself this past year, and I’ve gained newfound independence, strength, and joy in getting to know myself. I’ve had the space to grow on my own, laugh, cry, and just be me.
I know that I won’t live alone forever, but having had this experience so far is something that I will deeply cherish. I think everyone should live on their own once in their lifetime. At least for a little while.
“Be alone. Eat alone, take yourself on dates, sleep alone. In the midst of this you will learn about yourself. You will grow, you will figure out what inspires you, you will curate your own dreams, your own beliefs, your own stunning clarity…”
xoxo
