Completely agree. I don't crave contact just for the sake of contact and if I'm spending time with someone else, I prefer it to be a cup of coffee, not some elaborate excursion. As always, I'm up for the being a whole lot more than the doing.
Couldn't have said it better myself. I need solitude to recharge my batteries. My wife, an extrovert, needs people and is almost pained IMHO by periods of solitude. We sort of bounce back and forth sometimes between experiences, parties, etc. What recharges her, drains me. We often spend time separately ( we have a 3 season summer house) which I enjoy alone, with our dogs.......
I don't dislike people but am selective about how much time I spend with them, and with whom.
Thanks for this piece that makes me feel much more like I fit in somewhere.
People ask why I get up so early -- by choice, yet! It's so I have a couple quiet hours to myself before work, caregiving duties, appointments and other demands kick in. The world is all mine for a little while. Rising before dawn could be considered the first part of my daily health regimen.
Yes! Solitude is the choice of an introvert who is very comfortable with his/her own company. The solitude I choose makes me happy and more confident when I choose to interact with other people. Thank you for making the distinction between loneliness, which I don't wish on anyone, and solitude, a chosen behavior.
Completely agree. I don't crave contact just for the sake of contact and if I'm spending time with someone else, I prefer it to be a cup of coffee, not some elaborate excursion. As always, I'm up for the being a whole lot more than the doing.
I like the way you make it sound more noble.
It’s a self-serving talent, isn’t it?
How could anyone be lonely when there are so many books to be read? :) Thanks for another great essay, Don!
Couldn't have said it better myself. I need solitude to recharge my batteries. My wife, an extrovert, needs people and is almost pained IMHO by periods of solitude. We sort of bounce back and forth sometimes between experiences, parties, etc. What recharges her, drains me. We often spend time separately ( we have a 3 season summer house) which I enjoy alone, with our dogs.......
I don't dislike people but am selective about how much time I spend with them, and with whom.
Thanks for this piece that makes me feel much more like I fit in somewhere.
I'd say we introverts need to stick together, but... Thanks again for articulating a useful insight.
People ask why I get up so early -- by choice, yet! It's so I have a couple quiet hours to myself before work, caregiving duties, appointments and other demands kick in. The world is all mine for a little while. Rising before dawn could be considered the first part of my daily health regimen.
Yes! Solitude is the choice of an introvert who is very comfortable with his/her own company. The solitude I choose makes me happy and more confident when I choose to interact with other people. Thank you for making the distinction between loneliness, which I don't wish on anyone, and solitude, a chosen behavior.
Completely agree. The problem is, solitude can be very hard to come by sometimes.
Well said. We are in agreement
Solitude and interacting with others are the yin and yang of being.
Solitude is great for introspection, and for calibrating the self.
Fundamentally social creatures, humans benefit from connections, when these provide meaningful interaction and mutual caring.
As always, you have given us food for thought!
Thanks, Rita!