Thought of the Day and Question of the Day: Learning to Love Your Own Company

Let’s talk solitude. Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day aren’t just about being alone—they’re about what happens when you meet yourself in that space. Are you a welcome guest in your own mind… or the person you’d rather ghost?

In this post, I reflect on what it means to truly enjoy your own company, why loneliness isn’t the same as being alone, and how a simple question—“What do you like to do when you are alone?”—can reveal a whole lot more than your Netflix queue.

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🧠 Thought of the Day:

“If you are lonely when you are alone, you are in bad company.” – Jean-Paul Sartre

Sartre doesn’t mince words, does he? That quote is one of those zingers that feels like a punchline and a punch to the gut. It gets under your skin because, deep down, we all know what it’s like to be alone and feel… well, unaccompanied. And not in the cozy, cup-of-tea, finally-some-peace kind of way. More like, “Wow, I don’t even like hanging out with myself.”

There was a time in my life when I had to be around people. Silence was too loud. Stillness felt like drowning. I avoided solitude because I hadn’t figured out how to sit with myself without feeling like I needed to apologize.

But somewhere along the way—maybe it was during early parenthood, or maybe during a late-night walk—I realized that being alone didn’t have to mean being lonely. It could mean freedom. Reflection. Creativity. Even joy.

If you find yourself lonely every time you’re alone, it’s not about your social life. It’s about your inner life. And that’s something you can actually work on.

For more reflections on solitude and self, check out how would you respond if someone told you they didn’t like you.

❓ Question of the Day:

What do you like to do when you are alone?

This one sounds lighthearted—until you realize that how you spend your alone time says a lot about who you are when no one’s watching.

Some people journal. Some people blast music and dance around the kitchen. Some binge bad TV, while others build empires in their minds. Me? I like to sip coffee slowly, flip through books I’ve already read, and sometimes just sit and do absolutely nothing but breathe.

I also talk to myself. (No shame. I’m an excellent conversationalist.)

Being alone isn’t a punishment—it’s a practice. It’s a way to find out what brings you peace when no one else is there to distract you.

If you don’t know what you enjoy doing alone, maybe today’s a good day to find out.

Want more like this? You might also enjoy what sound do you look forward to each spring or this one on what people misunderstand most about us.

💬 Over to You

So, what do you like to do when you’re alone? Are you your own favorite company or just tolerating yourself until someone else shows up?

Drop a comment, share your go-to solo activity, or just say hello. And if you’d like more questions and reflections like this delivered to your inbox each morning, you can sign up for the daily email here.