The Importance of Independence

Lately, I've been learning the extreme importance of being an independent woman. Through all this moving and working and becoming the person I want to be (and know that I am), it has become glaringly obvious that depending on others can only last so long. Eventually, there comes a time when you must know WHO YOU ARE and WHAT YOU WANT and just let everything else fall away. I thought I would share a few key pieces of advice for other women out there who are still searching for their independence.
SIX Ways To Be The Independent Woman: 1. Know Yourself - Spend time every day (or at least every week) getting to know YOU. Take YOURSELF out on a date, spend a Saturday or Sunday roaming your city ALONE, enjoying the things YOU love to do. Delve deep into your hobbies, accomplish your goals, and work towards making YOU the best person YOU can be! 2. Work On YOUR Time - Do not allow others to tell you when and where to be. Except for work or anything mildly important, work on YOUR timeline. What time do YOU want to go to dinner or see a movie? When do YOU plan on going to the beach and how long do YOU plan to stay? It's ok to be flexible as a courtesy to others, but if it's a plan you created, then stick to it. Don't allow others to tell you how to spend YOUR TIME. 3. Drive Yourself - If you have a car of your own and the ability to drive it, DO IT. There is no other freedom such as the freedom to come and go as you please. Tired of the company you're currently keeping? Bored of the scene? LEAVE. That's the beauty of driving...you can come and go whenever you're ready. 4. DIY - Do it YOURSELF. If you're not sure how to get something done, look it up. Google it, YouTube it, ask someone who has knowledge about it...whatever it takes, DIY. If all else fails and it really isn't something you can do on your own, use your resources. Just know that people are not always dependable and sometimes you need a Plan B resource, so look up two people just to be safe! 5. Make Your Space, YOURS - Whether you have your own house/apartment or just a room in a house full of other people, make sure that the space you occupy every day is YOURS. Decorate it however you feel is best to express who you are. It's somewhere you should LOVE to be, no matter the time of day. Love having a dark room? Use dark curtains or paint the walls a dark color. Love the look of a bright, fresh color palette? Use colors that make you smile or think of a bright, sunny day! I'm painting my walls in my living room PINK...everyone thinks I'm crazy, but I don't care. It's what I want and so I shall have it! :)
6. Be True To YOU - This is the rule that encompasses all the others. Stand strong in who YOU are and know that you don't have to apologize to anyone for any reason about who you are. If you are honest with yourself and with others about who you are and what you think, there is no reason to be apologetic. Every person in this world is different and you should not conform to the person others believe you to be. Create your own rules for your belief system and follow them. As long as you know what is right, that's what matters. Don't hold back. I immediately let people know that I don't have a filter, so I'm going to be completely honest with them, simply because I don't have time to lie! They are taken aback at first, but then come to understand and appreciate my honesty. I'm not rude or tactless, but I don't hold back what I think just to make others comfortable either! I hope this helps you in becoming the person YOU want to be. What steps have you taken to become an independent woman in YOUR life? Share your story in the comments below!