Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Solitude

When you hear the word solitude, what comes to mind? For me, I think of something along the lines of Thoreau's "Walden," one solitary person in the middle of nowhere all alone. But that's not easy to find in today's world.

And yet, I'm a person who needs solitude. Sometimes I just NEED to be alone. It recharges my batteries. Not that I'm anti-social or anything. I am actually very friendly, I swear!! It's just that I get overwhelmed when there is always someone there. Even if it's just someone in the same room, but not interacting with me, it drains me.

I guess I just feel freer when I'm alone. Free to just sit there and stare out the window. Free to talk to myself (which I do when I'm trying to work things out in my head). Free to read in peace and quiet. Free to do whatever I want without someone judging me or interrupting me.

I had one of those days today. I started work the other day and today was a particularly annoying day. Nothing huge, just annoying. So I got in the car, drove to the store, picked up a magazine and just pulled over on the side of the road and read. All alone.

Back in Miami, I had a multitude of options when I wanted to be alone. I would often go to the library and find a corner to retreat to. Other times, I'd go to the local park and read under a tree. But here in Doha, I don't really have many options. There are no libraries. Parks, when it's cool enough to be outside, are packed unbelievably full. So I have to be creative.

Being alone is different from being lonely. I think the ability to be comfortable with yourself when you are all alone is a mark of maturity. If you haven't tried it lately, give it a shot and see how it improves your mood.

5 comments:

Stacey said...

makes such perfect sense to me! hope you got recharged!

tammi said...

Or it's the mark of an only child!!! I'm totally with you on this ~ I need my "alone time" desperately each day, which is why I force myself to get up an hour or more before everyone else in the household. I need to start my day with that because goodness knows, it won't be a possibility for the rest of the day!!

This is part of the reason I'm actually looking forward to my youngest daughter being in kindergarten this fall. (the other part being, of course, actually being able to get some bigger projects done without distraction. Or "help"...)

Leeann said...

Lori,

I am completely like you. I desperately need alone time (I call it Down Time) no matter how much I like the person or people I am with. It is a basic need of my psyche.

I can imagine that being at work would be taxing because you don't have a space or time that you can "retreat" and then you come home to your family needing you. You will re-adjust but it will take a bit, for sure.

Hugs!

Claire said...

I love alone time! I can never get enough of it, actually. I had three days all to myself at the beginning of the month, and it was the first time I had no demands on me, at all, since my children were born, 15 years ago. A week would have been more refreshing. :)

Claire said...

Enough solitude, girl! :) Come back!

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