Solitude

The concept of solitude and how it applies to my life is something I’ve been exploring over the past 6 months in depth. On the surface, it is relatively simple. As per the definition in the Oxford Dictionary:

"The state or situation of being alone."

Yet, that is simply the tip of the iceberg. Applying it to one’s life is similar to what’s hidden beneath the gentle, dark waters that bring us into the unknown. Where do we start and where does it end? Technology use, social interactions, community, family; these are all notions that are very much a part of the lives of everyone, and frankly the list goes on. To take these away for the pursuit of solitude would be asinine. That is an extreme path that only a few take.

I am not one of those few. Instead, I have been blending the concept of solitude into my personal life at a slow pace. It is this pace that in turn feeds into the very concept. Abiding my time to attempt to understand what it means to have solitude. Merely being alone is not sufficient. There is an active participation in such a lonely activity that it feels like a chore in of itself.

Leo Babauta wrote an insightful article on Lost Art of Solitude and I think the title itself is a perfect reflection of where I am going with this. I’d like to highlight a particular section in the article:

“Solitude is a lost art in these days of ultra-connectedness, and while I don’t bemoan the beauty of this global community, I do think there’s a need to step back from it on a regular basis.” – Leo Babauta

I couldn’t have said it better myself. In my personal experience, stepping back has been a challenge in some areas, while in other areas it’s been easy. Take for example social media. It was easy for me to almost completely remove it from my life because I don’t partake in the act of posting online. There is one exception (LinkedIn), but that exception I find to be reasonable as there is intention behind that. What has been difficult to step back from, however, has been my consumption of YouTube. I use it constantly on my phone and it is a primary source of entertainment and news. Because of this, I ask myself, “Is this an inappropriate use of my time?” I have yet to answer that question genuinely.

My point in looking at the use of social media is because the act of using those platforms in of itself is the antithesis of solitude. To take this a step further, I would argue that actively seeking solitude or being in that state is a betterment to you mentally and spiritually than doom-scrolling on Facebook. I would highly recommend reading Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism as he goes into depth on this topic and the effects social media has on us.

The benefits I’ve found in solitude have been a clearer state of mind, less depressed, I find time to do what I value most, life seems more purposeful, time alone with thoughts (which allows me to develop my own opinions), and dare I say happier. It isn’t frivolous happiness that can be blown by the wayside as soon as the tide comes in, but one with roots that are growing deep by the day. Watered by solitude.