Learning to Embrace Being Alone

Learning to Embrace Being Alone

As I sit here at Finch Cafe in Wildomar, CA, with my freshly manicured nails and a steaming cup of tea, I find myself surrounded by the soft hum of life - gentle music, faint conversations, and the comforting clinks of dishes being cleared.

It’s a cozy, peaceful moment, one I would have fantasized about years ago when the house was bustling with the energy of young children and endless to-dos. Back then, I craved these quiet moments to myself. I dreamed of a time when I could sit uninterrupted and just be.

But now, as I sit here in this calm, intimate space, I realize how difficult it is to be comfortable with this solitude. The children are grown, the house is still, and my husband is often away traveling for work. The silence I once yearned for feels heavy some days, pressing on my chest like an unwelcome guest.

I’m trying to embrace being alone, to lean into this new season of life where I no longer need to give every ounce of myself to others. But it’s hard. There are moments when the loneliness creeps in, uninvited, and I feel tears well up out of nowhere. It’s not that I’m ungrateful - I treasure my family, my home, and the life weave built ”but navigating this “empty nester” phase is not as easy as I thought it would be.

Sitting here, though, I am reminding myself that this is part of the journey. I am learning that being alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely. It’s about discovering who I am in this new chapter, embracing the quiet, and finding joy in the small things - a cozy cafe, a warm cup of tea, a moment of self-care.

It’s okay to cry when it feels overwhelming. It’s okay to feel lost as I figure out what comes next. But it’s also okay to allow myself to enjoy this newfound freedom, to explore what makes me happy, and to remember that being alone is an opportunity to reconnect with myself.

So, here I sit, in this lovely little corner of the world, taking one small step toward embracing solitude. It’s not perfect, and it’s not easy, but it’s my journey - and I’m learning to find beauty in it.