Alone but Not Lonely

I’ve not written about the present situation we ALL find ourselves in with the Corona-19 virus. So much is being said-over and over. Many have died, thousands are ill and most of us remain home. I’ve been home for eleven days and only went out eleven days ago to make sure I didn’t go gray during this stressful time.

I have to share – the first chapter of my book, Living Learning Loving, is titled “Living with Solitude.” Solitude, for me, is not something I avoid. It is a pleasure that I embrace. Loneliness is not the same thing. I crave solitude.

People across the globe are experiencing solitude, some more than others. I expect that in the weeks ahead there will be reactions to this experience. Psychologists are already anticipating a rise in depression, suicide and domestic abuse. What an awful forecast!

I’ve spent many days in solitude, some by choice-others not. Either way I have learned more, stretched more, and grown more during those times. Aloneness need not be lonely. It can be a time for needed change and insight into your plans and choices. It can even be seen as ‘me time’ when you can focus on your own needs, wants, and desires for the future.

Seeking answers to life’s hard questions is a process that demands time apart from the crowd. This alone place is where you become your own person. Once you are sure of yourself, your beliefs, and your convictions, the decisions you make will be wiser and more appropriate for your life.

-from Living Learning Loving

I hope that during this unprecedented days (or maybe months) you will embrace your time away from the crowds, read that book you’ve been wanting to read, and take some time to learn a little about yourself.

   I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. I have experienced the potholes, pests, and perils of being the single head-of-household. As an educator in regular and special education for twenty years I know a great deal about child development and how to handle kids. I am the founder of SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I'm a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on Amazon.