Lessons I Learned From Living Alone

1. Independence – I learned that I can take care of myself and that I don’t need a man in my life. That’s not to say that I don’t want one – just that I can more or less handle things on my own. I can hang a picture or change a tire among other things. I came to realize that I can do anything I set my mind to and that I can definitely handle whatever life throws at me.

2. Being resourceful – I learned to make do without and to make the best of things. I made a point of trying to see the positive in everything. Sure, I didn’t have much – but everything that I did have was mine.

3. Budgeting – I learned that in order to get by on your own, you have to work twice as hard. For almost a year, I worked two jobs – one full-time and one part-time. More importantly, I realized that I ultimately determined my own fate. I learned that no one hands you anything in life and that if you want something, you have to work for it.

4. Wants versus needs – I very quickly learned the difference between wants and needs. I realized that I couldn’t afford to have everything and that I had to pick and choose what was most important. My first car? I’m still driving it 12 years later. The more you have to work for things, the more you appreciate them. I just can’t wrap my head around having a car payment again until I absolutely have to.

5. Being content – I learned that I’m okay on my own and that I don’t need other people to make me happy. I learned that I can dance around the house using a hairbrush as a microphone if I so desire and that I can do what makes me happy without always giving all of myself to someone else. I learned to take a step back and appreciated things for what they were. It might not have been perfect, but it was good enough for me.

Have you lived alone – you know, before you had a husband and kids? Did you learn some valuable lessons in the process? Leave a comment and add to my list.