Embracing Solitude
You know those goofy quizzes that Facebook has running rampant on our newsfeeds? Everyone is taking them to find out which Greek god or goddess they may be or which song was actually written for them (I vote that I’m Athena and my song is, “We Built This City”). There are several quizzes that also determine whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. I, my friends, am without a doubt an extrovert. I thrive on the existence of and interaction with other people. While I may enjoy some alone time, I actually can get a natural high by just hanging out and having some intellectual conversation with others.
That’s why, when I found myself suddenly single as a new mom nine years ago, I was at a complete loss. This was before Facebook had become popular. Sure, MySpace was around, but social media as we know it was virtually non-existent. Texting hadn’t become the norm yet, either. When my baby went to sleep, it was me and the TV or a book. Sometimes, my mom would come to visit. I didn’t really have any close friends who were available (my closest had her own new baby). It was a lonely and sad time.
In that time, however, I learned more about myself than I ever had before. And, I learned how possible it is to be alone and still have a good time.
It was in the loneliest of moments that I learned how to listen to what I wanted instead of what I thought others wanted. I was able to eat whatever dinner sounded good to me or visit whatever store I felt like visiting for however long I deemed it necessary.
These days, a marriage and two babies later, I rarely have a chance to sit and be quiet. Even when I do have a few moments of solitude, my mind is moving too quickly to really relax. So many things are on my plate, and it just seems that there’s never time to focus on one thing: me.
Candy Crush, a novel, and a few minutes on my blog give me a chance to be with just me. What do you do for just you?
