Spend time on your own - even if you have a family

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 I have just returned from visiting London with my sister for a couple of days. Usually we would meet up at about the same time and stay together for the most of any visit but this time I had a lot of time to myself and I admit....I loved it. 

When you are with someone else there is a sense that you need to keep in with them and some of the travel has to be what they want to do. "Shall we eat here?", "No thanks I'm not keen on burgers". (I'm fairly sure I would drop anyone who thought that but it was an example). "Let's go down here it looks interesting!", "No, my feet hurt and I don't want to walk any more"

When you are alone, it's all about what you want. , "Ooh what's down there, let's find out." I'm hungry, I'll eat. I'm tired, I'll pause. Not what someone else wants, not where someone else wants to go or eat. I get to choose everything for myself. I walked my legs off roaming around from the Tower of London across Tower Bridge, walked the length of the south bank and back to my train at Waterloo station. Everything was on my terms. In my time frame. I stopped and took the photos I wanted, people watched and listened to their random conversations in many different languages. Saw children chasing pigeons, people get told to "Get off the riverside wall and go home to a loved one" from the security guard. (I'm fairly sure he just didn't want to have to jump in after someone if they fell off but I like his version of "Get down you stupid tourist").

I suppose you can be that person who does what they want regardless of anyone else around you. No thoughts of anyone else in tow and they have to follow you if they want to stay in your orbit, but I am not like that. I have mentioned before I am a people pleaser and so usually I will have a plan of where we can go, eat and what's the right tube station and route to get anywhere. It's even worse with a child in tow. London can seem like a very big place with far too much walking for little legs and uncertainty about what to do, where to go (and the worst) where is the nearest toilet in case their bladder decides it is time to let go with only 1 minutes notice?

I spent about 4 hours doing this little (well rather long as it turned out) jaunt around London and only 30 minutes or so wishing my family were with me.  The sense of freedom was fantastic. 

Don't get me wrong, I am so glad I am not alone for most of my life. I love my family dearly and love that I have people do do things with and for. But if life gives you a chance to do things alone, then do it. It is liberating. 

Until next time xx


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