Being alone doesn't always mean one is lonely.
Loneliness is a whole different discussion from moments those particular moments when you have the chance to observe the world without intervals of other voices but yours and you find pleasure in the moment. For me, that equates to meditation, that is solitude.
Usually, I stroll around the campus grounds with my friend, discussing about the what-nots and our little bitter-sweet perception of life, but at certain moments I chose the company of silence rather than the presence of humans.
I consider the library my second home. I feel rather at ease being alone and able to ogle at the sky from the high floor of the building, seating at my solo desk by the window. The silence and the knowledge I get from the surroundings and the book I'm reading is enough company.
Today, I took the MRT to school. I rarely take this route, but since I was running late, it proved to be very helpful since it only takes an hour to get me to my destination. I don't know why, but riding trains alone feels very nostalgic to me. There's a way that the noises from the crowed, waiting for the train to arrive that feels so Metropolitan to me, along with the alarming sounds of the coming train and the voice-overs sets the adrenalin running but will be soon soothed as you see the rain passing by from the window, together with the images outside that greets you "hello" and "farewell" at the same gracious manner.
Bridges to me are always symbolic. I always find joy after crossing a long bridge. Yes, even if the rails are colored pink, the walk alone feels light.
And there's nothing wrong eating alone in a carinderia or even a fast-food chain, as long as the atmosphere is right. This afternoon, I ate my lunch alone. It was a refreshing feeling and I did not feel lonely as I thought I would feel since I've been so used to having my friends eat with me. But then I remember my childhood spent alone, eating my half-order menudo and half-rice which I bought from Aling Norma, our neighbor. I used to visualize myself as a TV host for food so I would not feel the silence, so I would forget that my brother is in school, my mother is working, my father is in another house and I was 7 years old feeding myself alone. But I was not the least lonely. You can always work some ways to keep yourself company, and that made me strong, that was my solitude.
I would not mind taking my walks alone nor my meals with no other voice besides my head, from time to time.
