How is Living Alone Both a Blessing and a Curse?
Derived from Ecclesiastes 4:9, the phrase “Two are better than one” captures the essence of companionship and how it helps us seize better outcomes. No doubt, life feels less heavy when you have mutual support and someone to lean on when things get rough.
However, some choose to do things in solitude—people who decide to carve their own paths, kilometers or even miles away from their loved ones.
Sometimes it’s a personal choice, but oftentimes it’s a sacrifice that has to be made. Pursuing dreams while embracing the spirit of independence is far from easy. Opportunities may arise just as quickly as curveballs appear.
Indeed, it’s an uphill battle. Yet, some openly shared their experiences online, testifying that living alone has both its triumphs and challenges.
Quiet Ache: The Unspoken Battle of Living Alone
The feeling of knowing someone has your back is completely different from having no choice but to do things alone. Living a life where every decision and consequence rests upon you will never be easy. It takes real strength. It’s not for the weak, as many would say.
Kiel Coronel, a working student and content creator who has been living independently in Manila for three years, also shared his journey of living alone. The beginning wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies.
Budgeting is perhaps the toughest aspect of living alone. He recalled a time when he had to rely solely on a single canned food while saving up for emergency funds. Nonetheless, life can be unexpectedly unpredictable.
Kiel once reached a point where he only had 100 pesos left and had to wait two more days to receive his next salary. This situation forced Kiel to eat biscuits and water to get through the days and still make it to work.
Besides, he also mentioned that living alone means having nonstop tasks to accomplish. Otherwise, they’ll pipe up swiftly. Unlike living with your family, where there are people to help with the household chores or even care for you when you’re sick, living alone means taking full responsibility for everything yourself.
These are just a few of the struggles faced by people who choose to live alone, and there are many more untold realities—stories that are rarely spoken about, especially when it’s a decision they’ve chosen to stand by. Yet, living alone can’t be defined by such hardships. Still, there’s an underlying beauty in it.
Silent Sanctuary: The Grace of Living Alone
Living alone isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kiel may have encountered challenges along his solo journey, yet each experience molds him into the person he’s meant to become.
Contrary to what many believe, living alone doesn’t always mean feeling lonely or trapped in a boring life. For some, especially those who grew up in dysfunctional families, living alone becomes a sanctuary where they finally find the peace they’ve longed for.
Rubie, a TikTok content creator, shared in one of her videos that proximity isn’t the same as closeness. Living under the same roof doesn’t guarantee that you’ll feel loved, supported, or understood.
She mentioned that she first left home when she was 21 but had to move back in with her family during the pandemic. Without hesitation, Rubie admitted that it was the lowest point of her life. For the sake of her sanity, she decided to move out again.
Her intention was not to paint her family as the villain but to make people realize that we’re not always going to be compatible with the people we share blood with. Now, Rubie has gotten to know herself better. It’s a rewarding moment for someone who once struggled with identity trauma.
Living alone is more than just being on your own. It’s a gateway to rediscover inner calm, to spread your wings away from chaos, and to find comfort in your own company.
Getting to know and see part of yourself that you have never seen before is a powerful form of growth. It’s an ally in recognizing both your limitations and what you’re capable of.
There are always two sides to a coin. Living alone is both a blessing and a curse. There are days filled with calm and clarity, yet sometimes the silence feels too heavy to bear. However, one thing is for sure: the moment you start owning your independence marks the reality that every chapter of your life lies in your hands—and each ending depends on how you choose to write it.
