To Be Alone

Do you really know yourself?

This past week I did something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

A solo camping trip.

3 days on the Northern California Coast with extremely limited cell service.

No plans.

Nothing to do.

Just my dog, myself, and a cooler full of food.

It feels strange at first, being alone. You realize that you are almost a stranger to yourself. Being alone with yourself feels like finding an unknown person sitting in your living room. Do you talk to them? Do you silently observe them and see where they wander? Do you pull up Instagram and ignore them?

It sounds odd to call yourself a stranger, but it seems like most people would agree with me. People don’t spend time alone. They feel uncomfortable or awkward when they are alone with themselves. How can you be uncomfortable when you are alone with yourself? You are you.

There is a lot that you can learn (and unlearn) when you are alone. Understand what you really love in life, what brings you the most stress, and what you could do without. When you are alone it allows you to go within yourself. To explore the inner workings of your brain like a 15th-century surveyor venturing into uncharted waters. In the hustle and bustle of the world, it is tough to go within. Your attention is constantly being pulled every which way. Text messages, doorbells, email notifications, microwaves, laundry, the list goes on and on. When you are alone at a remote campsite there is nothing pulling your attention away, outside the occasional fox that wanders near your campsite.

So what is the point of this?

Most people go through their entire life without spending any time with themselves.

Spend time alone. You will see things in the world, and in yourself that you would have never seen otherwise. You will appreciate so much more. Life is a miracle that is constantly unfolding around us, stop and smell the roses every now and again.

P.S. If you are looking for a campsite Westport Union Landing State Beach is amazing.