Do It Alone

The concept of doing things alone feels strange to many people. It feels strange because you’re experiencing something you can’t physically share in the moment — and for some, that’s the turnoff. They either want someone to share it with, or they worry about being looked at differently for choosing to do something alone.

I know it’s something many people in my generation struggle with. For me, it’s a concept I’ve been learning to come to terms with over the past few years. At this stage of my life, I’ve realized there is so much life to live, and I don’t want to let it pass me by. Doing things alone — as hard as it can be — has allowed me to keep living and experiencing life for what it is, rather than putting it on hold.

In 2023, I had my first full day completely to myself while traveling in Scottsdale. It was the first time I intentionally did several things alone. I wandered through town, shopped, and for the first time ever, sat down at a restaurant by myself. Before that, the only solo activity I had done was going to the movies.

It was more impactful than I expected. I may have overthought the experience of eating alone, but I felt different — almost visible in a way I wasn’t used to. The restaurant didn’t bring out chips and salsa like they did for other tables, and the whole experience felt rushed. Whether that was truly because I was alone or just the nature of the place, I’m not sure. But what I do know is that I was proud of myself. It was a small moment that felt big.

I didn’t yet know how to be fully comfortable with myself in those environments. I wondered if I was on my phone too much. I questioned whether people were judging me. I had always relied on others to fill space and be present with me. But that day, I realized I could show up for myself. I didn’t have to miss out on life simply because I didn’t have someone next to me to experience it with.

Since that trip to Scottsdale, I’ve taken a few solo trips within the U.S. and continued choosing to do things on my own. Sure, company would be nice. But as I’ve mentioned, I don’t want to wait for my life to pass me by.

More recently, one of my biggest fears I have had to overcome, was going to the gym. I never knew what it was like to walk in solo to a gym, and I’m not the typical guy who instinctively knows what to do once he’s there. I had some experience back in high school with the gym but beyond that, I felt completely out of place if I ever stepped foot inside. Luckily enough, in September 2025, I found CycleBar here in Colorado, and I’ve grown to love the community there. I may not know many riders yet, but I’ve built connections with the instructors — and there’s something special about being seen and recognized when I walk in. Without pushing myself to show up alone, I’m not sure I would have found it and continued on.

But I did.

And that’s the point.

Sometimes the courage to walk in alone is the very thing that opens the door to belonging and living life without letting it pass you by.

The other day I saw something on social media that stuck with me: “Loneliness is not failure. It’s exposure. You are forced to meet yourself, and that’s why it matters.”

There’s truth in that. When you strip away the distraction of company, you’re left with yourself — your thoughts, your insecurities, your strengths, your growth. And while that can feel uncomfortable, it can also be incredibly refining and growing for you to experience.

Doing things alone doesn’t mean you’re behind. It doesn’t mean you’re unwanted or forgotten. Sometimes, it simply means you’re brave enough to keep living — even when no one else is available to live it with you. And maybe that’s the quiet gift of solitude: you learn that you are enough company for your own life.