I've been a mom for 21 years now.
And one thing I don't remember doing, even before I had kids, was ANYTHING by myself.
Like really.
I never ventured out alone. I never went to the movies by myself, grabbed a coffee at a café, or wandered through a bookstore just because. I had this crazy idea in my head that doing things alone was lonely and terrible and borderline pathetic.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
To be honest, it's quite the opposite.
After becoming a mom and making that my whole existence for so many years, I crave time alone now.
Time where there are no expectations. No planning ahead. No trying to make everyone happy. Just... me.
The other day, I gave myself exactly that.
The week had been busy, but somehow I found a day that wasn't tied to my normal routine.
There was no agenda. No reservation. No timeline. No pressure to be anywhere.
And you know what? It was nice.
Like... really nice.
I didn't have to be anyone's chauffeur.
I wasn't thinking about school pickup, grocery shopping, laundry, or the never-ending list of things that keep a household running. (Let's be honest... that list could go on forever.)
Instead, I let the day unfold.
I wandered.
I explored.
I even went to see a movie...By myself.
And it was amazing.
It made me realize something. Sometimes we forget how freeing it is to do things on our own.
Not because we have to.
But because we choose to.
And sometimes we don't even know how much we'll enjoy our own company because we've never given ourselves the chance.
There's something beautiful about leaving the house without an agenda.
No timeline.
No pressure.
No one asking, "What do you want to do next?"
Just you...
Following your curiosity.
If it's something you've never done before, it might feel uncomfortable at first.
That's okay. Anything unfamiliar usually does.
But here's something I'd love for you to try.
The next time you find yourself with an hour to spare...
Don't rush to fill it.
Don't make another checklist.
Don't turn it into another task to complete.
Just go.
Follow your curiosity.
Maybe you'll wander through a bookstore.
Maybe you'll order dessert first.
Maybe you'll sit in a coffee shop a little longer than planned simply because you're enjoying the quiet.
To me...
That's real luxury.
Having the freedom to choose yourself when the moment presents itself.
And realizing that enjoying your own company, without getting lost in the everyday demands of life, is another level of badassery.
So, consider this your sign to take yourself on a date...
Because maybe the greatest adventure isn't finding a new restaurant, a new hobby, or a new place to explore.
Maybe it's discovering the woman you've been becoming all along.
