Why I Like to Be Alone by Adam Bobat
Yes, I like being alone. Don’t get me wrong; I still like spending time with friends and family, but at some point, I just want to be alone. I get the rare opportunity to reflect on who I am, to enjoy small pleasures, and to be able to recharge without distractions.
One of the main reasons I enjoy being alone is that it gives me a time and place to reflect on myself. This includes going over what I did that day, the past week, what I did badly, what I could do better, and what I want to accomplish. Most of the time, I reflect on small wins or losses. For example, a goal I have had for a long time is to stop cursing and limit my use of swear words. When I am at home around my family, I rarely ever say those kinds of words, but when I am away from my family and with friends, the words just come out. When I reflect on this goal, I think about whether I used foul language that day, and if I didn’t, I count that as a win. Another goal I have for myself is to sleep early, preferably before 11:30. A lot of days, I lose track of time as I’m aimlessly scrolling on social media or watching YouTube before bed, and end up going to sleep after 12:30. The days I go to sleep after 12 I call a lose, but the days I do go to sleep later than I want to but the reason is cause I’m with family or friends then I don’t count that a lose. The reason I like to use my alone time to reflect on my wins and losses is that when I am with my family or friends, we are always talking or doing something, so there is never an opportunity to step back from the moment.
Another reason I enjoy being alone is that I am able to aimlessly scroll on social media, watch YouTube, movies, and TV shows guilt-free. When I use my phone in front of my mom, she always makes some sort of remark. She always tries to make me feel bad for wasting my time, which does work sometimes. When I am with family or friends, I feel guilty about scrolling because I could be talking with them or doing something with them that does not involve staring at a screen the whole time. I enjoy being able to lie in bed and scroll on my phone without having to worry about someone making a remark or judging.
The final reason is being able to rest without distraction. One time, I was on the couch about to take a nap. The couch was soft, and the temperature in the room was perfect for sleeping. It wasn’t too hot to the point where you sweat, but it wasn’t cold enough to where you need a blanket or sweater. I was close to falling asleep, and the next thing I knew, my brother and three cousins came into the room. They are being loud and arguing about something–I don’t know what it was. I jolted up, and sleepiness went away. When I am alone, I don’t have to worry about being woken up abruptly. I can control the temperature by using a fan and closing the shades to create a dark environment without having to worry about someone complaining.
I enjoy being alone. It gives me a chance to reflect, enjoy pleasure guilt-free, and reset without distraction. I can scroll on social media for however long I want and sleep whenever I want. It’s time I have to myself to do the things I enjoy.
Hey Adam,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic meditation on the art of being alone - truly a lost, under appreciated craft in a growing digital world. What I especially appreciate about your piece is your in-depth delineation of your day-by-day schedule - what you do, when you're alone, personal goals for yourself. We also learn a lot about you through your familial interactions - how you behave with your parents, how their remarks affect you.
I would suggest you giving us more of the sensory details you use so well in the paragraph that begins with "the final reason". It allows the reader, for a moment, to be immersed in your world.
Great work!
Hi Adam,
ReplyDeleteI really like how your essay goes into detail when you give reasons as to why you like being alone. This essay is also something I can relate to because even though I like spending time with my friends and family, I also need time to be alone every now and then. As for feedback, I felt like your conclusion was really short and ended abruptly. To expand it a little more, maybe you can tie everything you mentioned in your body paragraphs together and reinforce the value of each reason you listed. Overall, great work!
Wonderful piece of literature Adam. I think you more than sufficiently capture your arguments here, giving the reader an interesting view into what it means to be an Adam Bobat. I thought your structure worked well, adding one piece of evidence and then expanding on that before moving onto the next. This helped interweave your self-reflection throughout, rather than jumbling it together at the end. Your paragraph on being alone providing an opportunity to reflect was iconic, as it was humorous in this manner. In a sense, you were reflecting on reflecting. Great work!!!
ReplyDeleteThis was interesting! I think you include a lot of detail. You include why you like being alone and how it makes your reflect and relax. I think you can make your experiences more universal. Also, you could add the part about scrolling in social media in the second paragraph to the 3rd paragraph since they are similar, and I think you can add more to your conclusion. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHello Adam,
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written. The ideas you describe are shared amongst man, from these small wins and losses we tally each day, to the moments where we just want to sit down and have a scroll. These reflections on the serenity of solitude speak to the importance of why we, even as social creatures, need some me-time. I'd suggest to expand on the broader implications of each example, maybe how they interconnect to some grandiose theme that you find throughout your life. Overall, amazing post!