Solitude
When the world becomes too heavy and the load cannot be carried one step further, unplugging from the noise and chaos is the logical move to make. More than logical, it is the most sensible decision.
This morning over my coffee I was, as I always do, thinking about the day ahead. What needed my attention, what could wait and what could I do for myself that would bring me pleasure or just some moments of respite to sit in contemplation.
Contemplation in solitude. Those moments where you can tune out the news, all of which is dire, all the time. I scroll around on the internet and specifically on social media looking for humour and lightness, for messages that inspire me or make me think about something I may have only given a passing glance. Sadly, there is not as much as I would like, but that doesn’t mean I stop looking.
Our souls can only hold so much. If we are empaths who care about the world, care about others and yes, even ourselves, though all too often we put ourselves as I just did to the end of that list of caring and empathy, we can reach a burnout phase and our souls cry out for comfort, for solace and yes, for solitude.
Solitude is not loneliness. It is time taken, that unplugging from the clamour, in order to reflect, to create, to re-evaluate priorities. It is the opportunity to renew the sense of self, our personal relationships and relationships with others within the wider community.
When I need that solitude I’m drawn to water – a walk by a lake or a river. Sometimes it is enough to just stand there and listen to the sound water makes, and watch the movement of the waves or the rushing water in a river. It can be fast or slow moving – but there is life to it that requires nothing but observation and as I stand there I can feel my body relax into that movement. My shoulders drop, my jaw relaxes and my breathing becomes calmer, slower. I find myself smiling and feeling at peace.
If I’m not in nature, music and art bring me joy. Allowing myself to become lost in colour and composition, in the beat of a song, or listening to the lyrics that hold particular meaning. I buy myself a small bouquet of flowers every week or every other week as needed. They need nothing of me but water. I lose track of how often I’ll gaze at a vase of flowers. I know they are there and I spend a great deal of time photographing them so that I can enjoy the pleasure they’ve given me, even after they are spent. And then there is laughter. Never overlook the emotional healing power of laughter.
There are times when we feel the pull to retreat from the every day responsibilities and the world that keeps spinning, often in ways that feel out of control. We do so in order to remember who we are, what we are here to do, and that our time here is finite, encouraging us to focus on the things we value and hold dear – relationships over material things, living with gratitude for what we have and perhaps being grateful for what we do not have. A reminder that we benefit when we are living our lives with intention.
What might your life look like as you comfort your soul in a contemplation of solitude?
