One of the most important lessons to learn in life is how to be comfortable when you are alone. As many would attest to, this is no easy feat, but it is definitely important. Not just so you can be self reliant, but because the knowledge that you can be self reliant gives you a confidence boost when things may not be going as well as you’d like.

For me, I feel one of the greatest chances I had for growth was when I did a six month study abroad way back in 2008. At that time, I am happy to say I am still in touch with the lone friend I made, but I was extremely lonely over most of that whole time.

Part of that was due to the economy, it was right after the Lehman Shock, and the NZ dollar went down to 44 yen at one point (February 2009, check it out if you don’t believe me), so all the money I had saved was basically split in half and I was living like a poor person.

That was an adventure, and I still remember spending extensive periods of time just walking around the city. In retrospect this is probably a reason why I enjoy Yamabushi training so much. Either way, it was an important time for me and when I got back to NZ I felt I had grown so much, a lot of which I put down to being comfortable in my own skin.

It’s not easy, but it is important to be able to be by yourself. That’s another reason why study abroad or overseas experiences are so fundamental to our growth. I just wish there was a way we could do it in the current climate.