one night, i went to the shake shack at madison square park, and after eating, sat and wrote for a few hours. it was so relaxing.
when i was waiting in line, a girl in front of me asked if i was also waiting for others to join me. i told her no, and she acted surprised and looked at me like i was weird for coming to the shake shack by myself. i told her how i am in new york just for the summer and at 19 years old, i haven't come across many other people my age, and how most of the people that i have met seem to discount getting to know me as a friend because, for one, my young age, and two, the fact that i will be gone by the end of august anyway (which i can understand, of course).
but i told her that i was pretty independent by nature, so wandering around this summer alone has just been one big adventure for me. sometimes i even like the fact that i am by myself because it means that i can do anything that i want to, at any time.
she said, "well that's how i am, and i have found that because i am that way, it makes it absolutely vital for me that i strive towards surrounding myself with people that i enjoy being around, because if i don't, i'm going to end up alone. and as great as it is being independent and fearless in our prime, fifty years from now, it won't feel so empowering anymore. the loneliness that this independence makes me feel once in a while at my age [26] is how i will feel all the time, i think, if i were to stay in this independent comfort zone forever. and the people in your life are what bring it real value."
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