Seeking Solitude ...

There is a great deal of difference between solitude and loneliness.  Solitude is a cloistered frame of time where one can feel very comfortable with his or her self and enjoy just being present.  On the other hand, loneliness is an unsettling experience filled with discontent and other negative elements such as fear.

To view our society, it is easy to see that children are given very little time to comfortably be alone to be creative or pensive.  Their days seem to be planned from morning until bed time with rigid schedules at a clipped pace.  Adults are much the same, driven by responsibilities, goals or self-imposed unrealistic expectations that disallow any down time until forced by exhaustion.  Women in particular frequently attribute any peaceful pause as laziness as their focus is on productivity.

Solitude offers an opportunity to peacefully engage in the rhythms of life, to experience a connection with nature, or to observe using all five senses...feel, smell, taste, hearing, and sight.  With a sense of privacy, a person can contemplate, pray, meditate, paint, write or read inspiring writings.  The idea is to create a time in space where we can create rich experiences and bring beauty into our lives.


Reflecting upon her Quaker childhood, Helen Flexner tells this story about her grandfather:

          As a child I was told that grandfather spent an hour every
        morning and evening listening to God.  So when I came
        suddenly upon my grandfather one day seated motionless in
        his armchair with closed eyes, I knew he was not asleep.  He
        was talking to God.  I stopped short where I was and stood
        very still.  Perhaps if I listened intently enough I might hear
        God's voice speaking to my grandfather.  But the room re-
        mained quiet, not even the faintest whisper reached my ears.
        After a long time my grandfather opened his eyes, saw me
        and smiled at me gently.  These moments of intense listening
        for God's voice in the room with my grandfather are among
        the most vivid memories of my early childhood.


As we create our agendas for the week ahead, try to block out a time to experience
solitude.  It might look like this:   

In the stillness, take 3 deep breaths, exhaling slowly.  Let the pressures of the day go.  Release the stress being held in your neck and shoulders by gently rotating the head and lifting the shoulders up to the ears and gently back down.  Take more deep breaths while settling sit bones into the chair. 

Closing the eyes, imagine being safely surrounded enabling the body to totally relax.  Experience this state of solitude using all five senses as time gently passes. 

When ready, become aware of the body and surroundings again.  Breathing gently, feel the toes and fingers wiggle.  Open your eyes and feel the sense of peace circulating in the body. 

       
         Solitude can be anything we make it, but you must decide to make it!