Thursday Thoughts...

“Being solitary is being alone well: being alone immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement.” 

Alice Koller

So often we think that being alone is like being lonely.

And yet, I love being alone at times: on my own with just my thoughts and a book; or my art practice; or my wandering time to the studio and back.  I don't feel lonely at these times, and I think these words help me understand why.

There can be a completeness in being on one's own.  The simplicity and satisfaction of having all that you need, within you and your space, with little need or demand of others.

Like so many things, when you turn the words around and think about solitude as being the fullness of your own presence, rather than the absence of the presence of others it takes on a whole new, more positive meaning.

For me, when solitude reflects my fullness of presence I am so very happy. If my solitude was all bout distance from, the absence of, the emptiness, then yes I would feel lonely and at times this can be so very true.

This, a book, a cup of tea, a glass of wine, my stitching...solitude at its best. Companionable solitude!