Solitude, Fairies and Mermaids

I have recently been engaged in quite a few discussions about loneliness. The discussion of solitude has been broached. Solitude is a common feature in the poetry on M3. While we have discussed marital/relationship loneliness before, especially loneliness of abandonment (The Leaver), we have not looked into solitude.

Solitude is much more than loneliness. Although defined as being remote from society or a lonely place, it means being out of the presence of others. Even if this alone is the same alone which engenders loneliness, it does not have to be. How we fill the space surrounding us when we are alone determines whether or not we are lonely.

-aholics

One of the most common fillers for solitude is work, whether paid or not. Workaholics tend to thrive in solitude, as no one is there to undo what is accomplished. Hobbies rank a close second. Hours can be fiddled away tinkering with contraptions, clocking miles with a (vehicle, pedometer, treadmill), cleaning, getting to the next level of a video game, flipping hundreds of pages or writing until the hands revolt.

Distractions can be rewarding, especially when they produce results. Sculpture, crafts, cuisine, art, gadgets…all take time. These things do not negate the alone nature of solitude, but they distract from focusing on the mere fact we are alone. The acts engage our minds similar to the way conversation and company do.

Not the time for these things.

Destructive Behaviors

Some behavior exacerbates the loneliness. Alcohol and drug use make the loneliness more pronounced. Depressants slow down our perception of the world, so we focus on the alone time. Stimulants rush us, but the crash behind the high pinpoints precisely how low the loneliness is.

Need

Despite our social natures and our enjoyment of others, we do need some solitude. We need some time without the pressure of living up to others’ standards and expectations. We need the figurative space to spread our mental puzzle across the floor to find the pieces which fit together without the fear of someone else stepping on it.

Describe It

Solitude means many things to different people. Often, the differences in the description come from our levels of acceptance of the benefits of being alone versus being lonely. The two are not synonymous.

Below, I give you the description of my solitude, given when asked by Lizzie: Can you be alone and not feel lonely? First, look at the picture John entitled Night Reflections. It is one of my favorite photographs from his vast collection, which has waited years for me to associate with words. Think about solitude both with the photograph and the words.

Compliments of John McDevitt ~ The Aware Writer

I have spent a large portion of my life alone. The loneliest place for me is in a room full of people I love who are so absorbed in the excruciating minutia they have no concept anything exists outside their own skins.

My solitude is warm. In it are my memories of the triumphs I own because I am here, not gone. Is it the same as the warm of arms around me? No, but it is knowing I do not have to have them to be whole.

My solitude has music. No one else hears it. I have to remember this is my theme song. If I listen closely enough, the words are a poem awaiting my pencil to meet the paper to be born.

My solitude has grace. It never leaves me. When I am in an anxiety-strickened throng, it reminds me calm is a few deep breaths away. When I am in the stillness of the witching hour alone, it reminds me I survived one more day. When I ask why, it lets me know I have a purpose, even if I do not have the wrapping paper off of it yet.

My solitude knows my loneliness. They are colleagues. It is a relationship of tolerance, for one does not exist without the other. They know no competition for they compete for different attention. One wishes for me to long, the other to be fulfilled.

In the end, being my own friend is the answer. I have two generations following me. In time, I will be there for them again, as I have in the past. In order to do that, I have to remain true to myself, respect myself and love myself. If I cannot do it for me, I shall never be able to do it for them.

Tonight has been lonely and wistful for me. It is how I came here. Between the pages, the posts have called. Knowing I have something to share is a comforting reward which sends loneliness to sulk.”

Mantra’s Poem

MantraNot to be left from the mix, Mantra has also being pondering loneliness and solitude. In the following, simply named The Rock, she explores the subject, resolving sometimes solitude is a self-preservative solution.

The Rock

Somewhere in the depth of the abyss
is something you’ve held so close
Your heart beats only to hold it.

Your buoyant spirit pulled you to the
Surface where you drew in a breath,
My perfume’s scent mingled in it.

You swam back into the frigid water
To tug on your treasure, caught beneath
Storm-tossed hulls and broken dreams.

The breath you expended swirled
One last time, the fragrance you
Remembered as you clutched at the beams.

Consciousness slipped from your mind
And you floated to the surface, where
I held you to me, shaded your eyes.

They fluttered open and focused on mine
And softened into glinting, cerulean pools.
Dark clouds soon blocked the sun from the skies.

As the raindrops fell, the shimmer faded.
You turned back toward the bowering sea.
I watched you sink into the surf, silently.

Nemide ~ From the Mollamari Collection

I know not how, or truly even if,
You rose from the tempest’s crests
The last time you swam from me.

Here upon my rock, I remain
Looking far across the ocean’s breadth,
Lulled by the tide, coaxed to endless repose,

My heart in shards like the baubles,
Beneath the sunken flotsam buried,
Its treasured worth never for you to know.

210420120536


~~~~~~~~~~

What is solitude to you? Can you separate solitude from loneliness? What did the writing of the answer and the poem say to you? Have you been in the photograph of solitude? Can you find comfort in solitude?

© Red Dwyer 2012
Re-Blogging of this or any other post on The M3 Blog is expressly forbidden.
Image Night Reflections displayed with permission of photographer
John McDevitt.
Image of mermaid courtesy of Mollamari Creations.
Copyright and Privacy Policy available in The Office.
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32 Comments

  1. Since all my friends betrayed my trust and no longer visit, solitude has become my life.

    I fear leaving my home, but still do so and meet those who were untouched by my past life.

    Today I need bread and my lottery tickets, so at 10.30am I will take the walk of fear and once home again I will lock the world out and return to my solitude…

    Love and hugs!

    Prenin.
    prenin recently posted..Sunday – another dose of dying rear.My Profile

    Reply
  2. I think John has said it best. I am of similar bent, loving solitude sometimes to my own detriment. I have all to often been accused of being a snob and unfriendly because I am not terribly comfortable in crowds of people, especially if I am not overly fond of them.

    Funny, I do great with public speaking. Perhaps it is because I can than run out the back door.

    This was, as always so well done. Poignant and thoughtful.
    valentine logar recently posted..Sunshine DaysMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 23, 2012

      The joy of public speaking is, even if you know some of the players, for the most part, your energy is engaged in your speaking. It helps tie up enough neurons you are not thinking about the people. Glad you liked this one.

      Reply
  3. For me, solitude comes when I’m at the beach. I’m not alone though. My husband sits watching the tips of his poles waiting for a bite, my dog, now dogs, sit quietly in the shade, and I sit reading a good book in the peace of my God given surroundings hearing the gentle breeze, and the waves crashing, whether they be soft and gentle or vigorous makes no difference to me…it is peaceful. I sense a calming peace with no negative thoughts, no concerns of bills or duty that may need tending. My mind just seems to let go and I feel free and at ease.
    Have a great day, Red!
    Hugs, xx
    Deb recently posted..Earth DayMy Profile

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    • Red

       /  April 23, 2012

      You have described solitude beautifully. I hope you have a wonderful, restful day. And I hope hubs catches something yummy! {HUGZ} Red. xxx

      Reply
  4. Ah … I could write a book on this.

    Back when I was still relatively healthy and had a “regular” job, I would often dream of having time to myself while sitting at work with the buzz around me.

    Having always lived with people until my marriage broke up, at first I dreaded the solitude once I lived on my own. However, it felt no worse than being alone within a marriage and I grew to love living on my own.

    My work was my social life, and I had few friends, most from work, or so I thought.

    Then I got laid off, shortly after became ill, and that is when I was forced into solitude and the “friends” left. This type of solitude, however, comes with loneliness, because it wasn’t a choice when my earlier solitude was.

    It’s harder to build bridges when in this situation when you are immobile and because people are scared to interact with people like me.

    Next, when bridges fail, come the walls. It takes less effort to build those, and comes without the price tag of rejection.

    If not checked, this can turn into phobias and you become a slave to the situation that was forced upon you, because it’s easier.

    In a nutshell, to me solitude and loneliness are two different things. The former positive, the latter negative.
    Alexandra Heep recently posted..T is for TriumphMy Profile

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    • Red

       /  April 23, 2012

      We agree on this entirely. It is always easier to wall than bridge. Bridges have always been a downfall for me. They often fail the cost-benefit analysis in my world. While I am not so big on walls, I am horrifically open about most everything, I still do not often reach out to even those who are in my presence. Very glad to see you today, Alex.
      Red.

      Reply
  5. I am at ease in company or alone, indeed the quietness can be rather refreshing as I write, often into the early hours though in the same instance I can enjoy conversation whether with friends or a new acquaintance, so in answer to your question I never feel lonely regardless of what I am doing, or at any given moment 🙂

    Another wonderfuly wtitten
    and thought provoking post Red 🙂

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • Red

       /  April 25, 2012

      You are quite the social animal, Andro. Glad to hear you have banished loneliness. 🙂

      Reply
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