Never be afraid to sit awhile and think. ~Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

Twyla Tharp says "You're alone, you're suffering and you don't have a good reason for putting yourself through that misery. To build up your tolerance for solitude, you need a goal". I'm referring to the second exercise in the book. This exercise is about having moments of solitude and being okay with it. I've created a list of things I like doing alone. I like reading alone. I like writing alone. I like going for runs alone. I like doing homework in solitude. Sometimes I enjoy just sitting in my room listening to music in solitude. There's probably more but I'm drawing a blank. You see, I don't mind being alone because it gives me a chance to recuperate and straighten out my mind. It gives me a chance to think clearly without the clutter of others words and thoughts crowding my mind. For example, I like to write alone. I can't write a story, a song or a poem with people around. I'd never be able to concentrate. I rarely let people read my work unless its something I'm really proud of. So in order to make something I'm proud of, I need complete solitude. Another example, I like reading and doing homework alone. How can you concentrate on schoolwork or a good book with other people talking around you? You won't get the full idea of the book or be able to do your schoolwork to the best of your ability because you won't be able to concentrate. Twyla Tharp also says "Sit alone in a room and let your thoughts go wherever they will. Work up to 10 minutes a day of this mindless mental wandering." She's basically saying its okay to daydream, and being alone isn't something that should make you feel lonely. Yes, sometimes I'd love to be out with my friends all day and not want to be alone one bit. But other times I enjoy being alone. When you're alone you have time to think and do something you enjoy. You can end up finding something that makes you extremely happy, or at least find your peace of mind.