I've spent a lot of my life on my own as well and it's been playing on my mind recently. My mum would tell relatives that I was happy in my own company, and I remember a teacher being concerned that I chose to sit by myself in the classroom, and my mum assuring him that I was happier that way. Even so, I have often been made (if only by myself) to feel that it was something that had to be fixed. But when I then tried to step into the sort of situations I would, if not avoid then, not actively seek out, I would feel even more like I should be on my own.

(And I've been told off for using Holmes and House as a role model!)

I did come to a conclusion a while ago that acceptance (especially of oneself) is a big part of happiness, too. But like you say, it's not always easy to accept that acceptance is okay.

Not sure what I'm trying to say here, possibly just thank you for the post.