Why You Should Embrace Solitude

It is your best teacher

Edith Tollschein

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“The only real teacher is not in a forest, or a hut or an ice cave in the Himalayas, it is within us.” Tiziano Terzani

Our society has long stigmatized solitude, we equate solitude with loneliness.

We forget that one can actually be surrounded by people but still feel lonely, and one can be alone without feeling lonely.

As an individual who loves spending time alone, I am often on the receiving end of questions like, is everything ok? Don’t you ever get lonely? Why do you like spending so much time alone?

You will have well-meaning friends and relatives suggesting that you should get out more often, or start a family, or even join whatever group they feel will save you from your solitary life.

It is hard for people to believe that a healthy human being can willingly choose to spend a lot of time alone.

Of course, there are people living a solitary life because life circumstances such as the death of loved ones, old age, illnesses have forced them to;

But this is where the difference between solitude and loneliness lies:

Solitude is something you choose, while loneliness is imposed on you by others or life’s circumstances.

Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness.

Solitude is a state of being alone without being lonely.

I come from a big family and a culture that believes that a house full of people is always better. I do not remember if there was ever a time I was alone at home when I was still living with my parents. It was quite common for relatives to visit and stay with us for a few days or even months.

My first experience of living alone was when I went to study in the UK. No friends nearby. No family nearby. Just me and my ambition in a new country. I had mixed feelings; I missed my family and friends, but I also enjoyed being alone tremendously.

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