Assignment from My Daughter

I complain a lot about being alone! My daughter, however, has been single all her life; so I asked her how she deals with it. It's not a problem for her at all. After going round and round for a while, she gave me an assignment: write down all the good things about living by myself. I decided to take her up on it, so here goes:

1. I only cook meals that I like.

2. I eat when I want to and don't eat if I don't want to.

3. I don't have to clean up someone else's messes: dishes, laundry, bathrooms, etc.

4. I sleep when I want to and get up when I want to.

5. I watch tv that I want to watch or watch none at all.

6. I decorate my place the way I choose.

7. I don't have to share drawers, closets, rooms, etc. 

8. I go on trips when and where I want.

9. I buy my own car, furniture, household supplies, food without anyone arguing about the style, size, color, price, etc.

10. I don't have to wait on someone when they're sick.

11. I don't have to "be quiet" because someone else doesn't like my piano playing or music blaring or anything else I do that makes noise. Bill hated noise.

12. I invite whomever I want for dinner and serve whatever I want to cook.

13. I wear what I want - even go braless if I want!

14. When I go out, I don't have to wait for someone to get ready or rush because someone's in a hurry.

15. I play games with friends; something I rarely did as a kid and never when Bill was home. 

16. I have plenty of free time to do what I want. 

17. I have "girls day/night out" or "gal overnights" - another thing I rarely did as a kid.

18. I enjoy new hobbies, activities, restaurants, outings; things my husband would never try.

So what are the bad things about living alone? I decided it was only fair if I made the opposite list, so here goes:

1. There is no one to talk to when I'm home alone. It's so quiet.

2. When I want to do something, I have to plan ahead. No impulse activities. Or I have to go by myself.

3. I was going to say I miss affection, but I never got affection. Nor do I give it very easily. So maybe that doesn't count. It is something I would like.

4. I don't like to be home alone during holidays especially. I usually have my kids on the actual holiday, but the days around it are very lonely.

5. I miss someone giving me gifts - but then I realized that I always bought my own gifts. He never went shopping. So this is not really a good point.

6. There is no one to tell me I look nice when I dress up. He did do that. 

Now that I look at both lists, I see there are many advantages to being alone! I guess I should stop complaining and figure out ways I can solve the few problems that it makes for me. Thanks, Shelly!