I’ll admit it: I’ve been single, I’ve been married, I’ve been divorced, and along the way I’ve learned how to land on my feet, self intact, no matter what happens. (The presence of my sister and my two wonderful daughters helps, of course.) I hear this a lot from friends who have re-embraced being on their own after leaving unhappy marriages: there is nothing more grounding than the true self-esteem that comes from knowing yourself, and knowing you can handle whatever comes your way.

What are some activities–hiking, shopping, driving, sleeping–you enjoy most when you do them alone? List a few reasons why these times of solitude make you stronger as a person.

–Arianna Huffington