Lighting Shabbat Candles - How Does it Feel?

"How did it feel?"  That was the question that each and every religious person asked me when I told them I lit the candles that first Shabbat.  I was surprised at that question when my Rabbi first asked me and perplexed when our ritual director asked me the exact same question. 

The only way I could answer each of them was to tell them how I didn't feel. 

I didn't feel awkward or embarrassed or odd. 

It didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable or odd. 

It was fine.   I had decided to light the candles by myself and for myself.   My thinking was that if I became comfortable with lighting Shabbat Candles by myself, it would not be a big deal to incorporate that into our Friday evening if we ever decide to do a Shabbat dinner.  I knew that it was the first step in that direction.  I knew that I had to do this for myself before I could do this with someone else.

It has been three weeks now that I have lighten the candles.  I am still not sure how I felt - pride, maybe;  a sense of accomplishment for sure; happy, certainly because that comes with a sense of personal satisfaction. 

I don't know if those responses were what was anticipated when the question was put before me.  I don't know that I felt anything spiritual, but I think I did feel a sense of belonging. 

I am wondering exactly what responses were anticipated by the first two that questioned me; but I do know, that by the time the third person (another Rabbi) asked me, I think I began to understand the question just a little bit more.