Solitude

[Akita Suggagaki]

“A man becomes a solitary at the moment when, no matter what may be his external surroundings, he is suddenly aware of his own inalienable solitude and sees that he will never be anything but solitary.”
― Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude


In "Disputed Questions" Thomas Merton has a chapter entitled Notes on a Philosophy of Solitude. I wish I could cut and past some of that from my Kindle version but I can't. I will be sharing some simply by typing it. I think Solitude is an important topic for us. It is not something just for hermits. It is an aspect of our existence. Some of us are more distracted from it than others. There is plenty to distract us... to alienate us from ourselves and from God. It is in solitude that we encounter our own mystery and find that it merges with the mystery of God.

 

[Sif]

I like the quote from Henry David Thoreau's book Walden in the chapter called Solitude:

“I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”​

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I like the quote from Henry David Thoreau's book Walden in the chapter called Solitude:

“I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”​

And some of us are more introverted than others. But I think we all have some need for solitude and silence. It is our own grounding.

 

[Sif]

And some of us are more introverted than others. But I think we all have some need for solitude and silence. It is our own grounding.

There is Matthew 4:1-11 of Christ in the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. There were other time He went alone or went away from people, of course.

In solitude the everyday distractions are quiet and it can be easier to focus one whatever it is one needs to focus on.

 

[partinobodycular]

“I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”

Mr. Thoreau must've never had a dog. Having a dog is as close as one can get to being alone, without actually being alone.

 

[MehGuy]

Everyone is wired differently, some need more solitude than others. For me personally, my social gauge fills up rather quickly and if I do not have long periods of time by myself I start to feel psychologically ill.

 

[partinobodycular]

Everyone is wired differently, some need more solitude than others. For me personally, my social gauge fills up rather quickly and if I do not have long periods of time by myself I start to feel psychologically ill.

I absolutely love solitude. Can't get enough of it. I probably say fewer words to people in a year than most people say in a day. In fact I could probably count them and come within a dozen or so.

 

[MehGuy]

I absolutely love solitude. Can't get enough of it. I probably say fewer words to people in a year than most people say in a day. In fact I could probably count them and come within a dozen or so.

Ever since I was a baby my parents noticed I liked being by myself a lot. Heck, it was one of the reasons I was suspected of having autism.

I had friends growing up, but even then I liked to keep the friend circle small. I always hated it when a new person tried to enter my small friend group.

I do notice, especially as I get older that some people find my need to keep to myself as somehow me being "rude" and assuming I think I am better than others.

While I may not be interested in being most people's friend, I am also fine with the idea of them not wanting to be mine either. It's not a superiority matter.

 

[Grafted In]

There are those, like with most things, who begin using solitude as a crutch and spend much effort convincing themselves it's who they are.
I keep watch for that in myself, having preferred solitude most of my adult life.
But constant human presence is difficult and tiring for me.

 

[Sif]

I have spent time alone in remote wilderness locations, or just with my dogs. I do prefer it; however, I also like, at least, some company.

I am reminded of quotes from the film Ad Astra (2019): "I am alone. Something I always believed I preferred. I am alone. But I confess it's wearing on me." and "I am looking forward to the day my solitude ends. And I'm home." as well as "He could only see what was not there... and missed what was right in front of him."

 

[jacks]

I'm perfectly happy with solitude myself. My internal dialogue keeps me amused. And when I need an understanding "other" I pray to the Lord who understands and shed light on all. I wonder also if people who are comfortable in solitude are also seldom bored. I'm never bored, I find everything interesting.

 

[partinobodycular]

I had friends growing up, but even then I liked to keep the friend circle small. I always hated it when a new person tried to enter my small friend group.

Well, you're way ahead of me there, I've never had a friend in my entire life... other than my dog. Dang I miss that dog.

 

[jacks]

Well, you're way ahead of me there, I've never had a friend in my entire life... other than my dog. Dang I miss that dog.

I've had a number of friends, but none were as loving and faithful as my dog. Maybe another dog? Every dog can be "the best dog in the world".

 

[MehGuy]

Well, you're way ahead of me there, I've never had a friend in my entire life... other than my dog. Dang I miss that dog.

Is it because you have zero desire to ever have friends or did you just find it difficult make friends?

I am sorry if the latter is the case.

 

[RileyG]

“A man becomes a solitary at the moment when, no matter what may be his external surroundings, he is suddenly aware of his own inalienable solitude and sees that he will never be anything but solitary.”
― Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude


In "Disputed Questions" Thomas Merton has a chapter entitled Notes on a Philosophy of Solitude. I wish I could cut and past some of that from my Kindle version but I can't. I will be sharing some simply by typing it. I think Solitude is an important topic for us. It is not something just for hermits. It is an aspect of our existence. Some of us are more distracted from it than others. There is plenty to distract us... to alienate us from ourselves and from God. It is in solitude that we encounter our own mystery and find that it merges with the mystery of God.

Curious, ever read The Seven-Storey Mountain?

 

[RileyG]

And some of us are more introverted than others. But I think we all have some need for solitude and silence. It is our own grounding.

As an introvert, I absolutely agree! Being around people all day, every day, is very exhausting!

 

[Niels]

"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson