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Daily Question, December 29

What does solitude teach me?

  • Carol
    Carol in Australia: 'Snap' to all your distilled wisdom. Thank you all. Wonderful! different countries, similar 'knowings' eg. Solitude has taught me Elaine: I need a daily dose to check in with myself Holly: to love myself KC: how essential it is... Whether a simple or more complicated day, it grounds, centers, connects, anchors, returns me to a place of inner and outer stillness, balance, wholeness, peace ... the gifts of relationship and community, forever learning where and how solitude f...

    Carol in Australia: ‘Snap’ to all your distilled wisdom. Thank you all.
    Wonderful! different countries, similar ‘knowings’
    eg. Solitude has taught me
    Elaine: I need a daily dose to check in with myself
    Holly: to love myself
    KC: how essential it is… Whether a simple or more complicated day, it grounds, centers, connects, anchors, returns me to a place of inner and outer stillness, balance, wholeness, peace … the gifts of relationship and community, forever learning where and how solitude fits in the balance and mix.

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  • Sophia Rose

    For so long, I yearned for a partner and a family of my own. I think I was looking outside of myself for fulfillment and purpose. Now that I am a wife, mother and have other various roles, I rarely get any time to myself. Although, lately I have realized how much I thrive and “reset” with solitude. Solitude brings me clarity, perspective, and peace in seeing that I am “okay” despite my daily struggles and stress. It brings me back to me.

  • Malag

    To be present. And to appreciate its flip side; company.

  • Nelson

    It reminds me how much I like peace and quiet. I can hear myself think. It’s nice.

  • Cathie

    Solitude teaches that it is not only ok to be alone but that in the silence and the aloneness there is wisdom to be absorbed.

  • MEG

    Solitude teaches me self-awareness and growth, faith, gratitude and love through the oneness and connection to All.

  • Blossom

    I sometimes call this the sorting out place. One thing I know for sure, I am worth loving and I want to share that love.

    • Michele

      ‘ I am worth loving and I want to share that love.’ love this and agree:)

  • Don Jones
    It has been a background upon which I sought answers. I found that until I yielded to it, it was akin to someone describing how to swim. It was not until I got into the water and bought it into my experience that the change started. There is much I can say about what unfolded, but in the context of the question, solitude provides the environment to deeply, honestly and openly seek across the internal dimensions. Jesus called it the Kingdom of Heaven. But as I say, you have to get into the w...

    It has been a background upon which I sought answers. I found that until I yielded to it, it was akin to someone describing how to swim. It was not until I got into the water and bought it into my experience that the change started. There is much I can say about what unfolded, but in the context of the question, solitude provides the environment to deeply, honestly and openly seek across the internal dimensions. Jesus called it the Kingdom of Heaven. But as I say, you have to get into the water to experience it.

    Read More
  • Kim
    Big "S" solitude has been fleeting...my daughters each left home for periods of time, returned, left again...I have had tastes of this solitude and while initially terrified, found it quite liberating ...almost like a doorway into the next stage of my life. I am currently living with one daughter as I balance in this doorway looking forward to what the future holds, but most of the time appreciating the beauty of this fleeting moment in time. Little "s" solitude continues to hold many lesson...

    Big “S” solitude has been fleeting…my daughters each left home for periods of time, returned, left again…I have had tastes of this solitude and while initially terrified, found it quite liberating …almost like a doorway into the next stage of my life. I am currently living with one daughter as I balance in this doorway looking forward to what the future holds, but most of the time appreciating the beauty of this fleeting moment in time. Little “s” solitude continues to hold many lessons for me…as others have shared it can be fraught with catastrophic thinking but when I am able to challenge this it is quite liberating. I continue to discover that I enjoy my own company, and I don’t have to fill every moment with productivity. I look forward to the ongoing teachings of solitude.

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  • KC

    Solitude teaches me how essential it is to my daily life. Whether a simple or more complicated day, it grounds, centers, connects, anchors and returns me to a place of inner and outer stillness, balance, wholeness and peace.

    I am also aware of the gifts of relationship and community, and forever learning where and how solitude fits in the balance and mix. The learning continues …

  • Linda

    Because I have been married for a long time, I have few chances for true solitude. I am not complaining! But I know being alone has been difficult for me in the past as I didn’t know what to do with myself. I hope after this many years of growth and self knowledge that when I do have to face solitude, I will embrace it rather than fight it, and I hope I can find the inner peace that comes with that.

    • Anna

      I love your reflection dear Linda.

    • Elaine

      Our stories have some parallels Linda 🙂 . And I feel the same about the possibility of facing it again.

      • Linda

        Maybe we can face it together when the time comes! (via this site).

  • Elaine

    Solitude has taught me that I need a daily dose to check in with myself, just not too much! I lived alone for too many years and loneliness was never far away. I am awash in gratitude to have found my “roommate” and life partner at last and cherish every hour of every day of our common life.

  • Carol
    When the Pandemic hit the U.S. in March of 2020, I had recently moved from one state to another, leaving several dear friends and the support that brings behind. The total isolation that followed gave me a choice between loneliness or solitude. I wish I could say that I immediately embraced solitude but I did not. I felt loneliness quite deeply but I found myself enjoying my own company. This was quite a revelation as the saboteur that lives in my head is very judgmental of me. Can't pinpoint wh...

    When the Pandemic hit the U.S. in March of 2020, I had recently moved from one state to another, leaving several dear friends and the support that brings behind. The total isolation that followed gave me a choice between loneliness or solitude. I wish I could say that I immediately embraced solitude but I did not. I felt loneliness quite deeply but I found myself enjoying my own company. This was quite a revelation as the saboteur that lives in my head is very judgmental of me. Can’t pinpoint when my loneliness turned to solitude but it did and I think the key was realizing that I was gaining more self-awareness and feeling a deep gratitude for that fact. I found myself becoming more self-aware of nature and how it is our teacher. I read a short article this morning that I think everyone pondering today’s question would enjoy. I hope you will take time to read it. Here’s the link: Linda Anderson-Little, “Embracing Darkness and the Solar Eclipse,” Soul Story Writer, August 22, 2017, https://www.soulstorywriter.net/109-embracing-darkness-the-solar-eclipse

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  • Holly in Ohio
    Solitude has taught me to love myself. Sometimes it is difficult for us to be in solitude and we get restless. Things might "haunt." When I lived with much solitude and loneliness my brain would bounce like a nervous ball until at last by bits I learned to love myself. I am very thankful for that time. With acceptance of what was and acceptance of myself I had a better foundation for life and for relationships. Now solitude is not uncomfortable, but a friend I can reach out to... that solitude i...

    Solitude has taught me to love myself. Sometimes it is difficult for us to be in solitude and we get restless. Things might “haunt.” When I lived with much solitude and loneliness my brain would bounce like a nervous ball until at last by bits I learned to love myself. I am very thankful for that time. With acceptance of what was and acceptance of myself I had a better foundation for life and for relationships. Now solitude is not uncomfortable, but a friend I can reach out to… that solitude is myself.

    Read More
    • KC

      Holly,

      Thank you so much for your reflection! ‘Solitude has taught me to love myself … with acceptance of what was and acceptance of myself I had a better foundation for life and for relationships. Now solitude is not uncomfortable, but a friend I can reach out to… that solitude is myself’.

      I find it so affirming and comforting for the path I and so many of us seem to be on!

      With gratitude,

      KC

    • Carol

      Holly, Absolutely beautiful and helpful. Thank you.

  • Maurice Frank

    After enough time alone, my mind quiets down and I can get more in touch with my underlying feelings and thoughts, which helps me get to know myself better.

  • sunnypatti

    Solitude has taught me to love myself. To sit with the person I was, the person I am, and the person I am becoming. To see the things I didn’t think I wanted to see and learn what is real and true. Learning to be with myself wasn’t easy, but it was necessary and came at the perfect time in my life. I am a huge people person, but now I appreciate and need my alone time. Solitude has taught me that I’m connected to all that is and to God as well.

  • DeVonna

    Solitude teaches me that I am enough. When I withdraw from society and external stimulation and focus on my inner self, I am strengthened, supported and renewed.

  • Howie Geib
    Solitude is a discipline. Like any form of exercise, it allows me to sharpen in a particular way. Any internal contradictions are revealed. Weakness is a signal, not a fault. In the silence and emptiness that comes with detachment, my body and mind can become instruments for my soul. And my soul, foreground much of the time, becomes familiar. My mind, which in solitude can be akin to a feral cat, slowly becomes accustomed and no longer as fearful. There are some essentials I require to survive i...

    Solitude is a discipline. Like any form of exercise, it allows me to sharpen in a particular way. Any internal contradictions are revealed. Weakness is a signal, not a fault. In the silence and emptiness that comes with detachment, my body and mind can become instruments for my soul. And my soul, foreground much of the time, becomes familiar. My mind, which in solitude can be akin to a feral cat, slowly becomes accustomed and no longer as fearful. There are some essentials I require to survive in prolonged solitude. Pattern, routines and physical work. And a goal. A point to it. Otherwise it is running away. Which is futile. Solitude teaches me my natural state. After a while (the longest I have had is a few years) everything non-essential is stripped away. Jettisoned overboard as it is no longer useful. And I become overtly aware of life in all its forms. I become one with my surroundings. I become more microphone and less speaker.

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  • EJP

    Solitude teaches me to be my own best friend.

  • Mary Pat

    That when alone, I have a connection with myself that is almost impossible to find in our busy world, a deepening of self that serves me well. My awareness is heightened, as is my attention to my breath. I do like it!

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