| I have lived alone for more than 30 years of my | | | | - You can also allow your dogs to sleep on the bed |
| adult life for no other reason than choosing to do so. | | | | to snuggle with, which is not something a spouse will |
| I have always been independent and comfortable | | | | always let you do. Dogs keep you warm and |
| being by myself. It hasn't always been easy. There | | | | protected on those cold winter nights. |
| were a few years of fear of living alone after a man | | | | Living alone gives you the freedom of not being |
| tried to break into my home in the early morning | | | | responsible to anyone for your whereabouts. You |
| hours a long time ago. And it isn't always easy to | | | | can come and go as you please, eat when you're |
| support myself, paying all the bills on my own. | | | | hungry and spend as much money as you can afford |
| But for the most part, I have loved living alone. For | | | | without explaining to anyone why you bought all |
| me, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I guess | | | | those toys for the dogs when all they do is tear |
| you could say I'm a little selfish and stubborn. But | | | | them up and pull the stuffings out. |
| then I'm a redhead. I like things the way I like them. | | | | Living alone builds character because you have to be |
| - When you live alone, you can have everything the | | | | responsible for everything concerning your life and |
| way you like it. You never have to worry about | | | | living conditions, your vehicle, and your home. If you |
| anyone moving your stuff. You might forget where | | | | weren't already, you will learn to be independent, but |
| you put something of importance, but at least you | | | | also you'll learn how to ask others for help with those |
| know no one accidentally threw it away or moved it. | | | | situations you just can't deal with all alone such as |
| - You know you'll always get to watch the TV show | | | | your car breaking down and you needing a ride to |
| or movie you want without any disagreements and | | | | the car rental place. |
| you never have to watch sports if you don't want | | | | So all in all, living alone is not such a bad thing. It can |
| to. | | | | be scary at times, but this can be dealt with by |
| - You can come home from a long hard day at work | | | | purchasing some self-defense products and home |
| and be greeted by the dog who is ALWAYS happy | | | | security items, taking self-defense lessons, and by |
| to see you and never has anything negative to say | | | | having a dog inside the home with you. No one has |
| about the dishes that have been sitting in the sink | | | | the right to invade the personal sanctuary of your |
| for a few days. | | | | home without an invitation, and being prepared to |
| - If you don't feel like talking or listening, you don't | | | | deal with such an intrusion gives you the power and |
| have to. And if you do feel like talking or listening, | | | | strength to fight back and win. This in turn gives you |
| pick up the phone and call someone. | | | | more confidence in yourself and your ability to face |
| - If you don't have much company over for meals or | | | | anything in life head on - another benefit to life lived |
| beverages, you can drink out of the bottle of juice | | | | alone. |
| or carton of milk to save having to wash glasses. | | | | When it comes right down to it, it's all good - living |
| Okay, I know it isn't polite and some of you are | | | | alone, living with a spouse, living with a roommate, or |
| curling your lips in distaste, but hey, who cares when | | | | living with a dog or 2. There are benefits to all |
| you live alone? You might just feel like having a sip of | | | | situations and there are lessons to be learned. It's |
| juice and you don't see any reason to dirty a glass. | | | | just life. We're all just people figuring out what we're |
| That's one of the benefits of living alone. | | | | doing here, together and alone. Enjoy the journey. |