I agree with Sandburg. As an introvert, I like solitude. I need solitude.
With winter approaching, my desire to hibernate, like the bear Emily Carr mentioned in Bathtub Bonus Post last week, is strong.
However, being a human and not a bear (at least most of the time!), optimal well being consists of a balance of solitude and social time.
To be perfectly honest, I'd like to formalize a schedule that would dictate how many hours of solitude and how many hours of socializing is optimal. This doesn't work.
Why? Because as Buddha told us (and as we pay attention to reality we discover for ourselves) everything is constantly changing.
Listening every day - dare I say every hour - for what will foster my creativity and well being is my now my challenge.
How do you determine your needs for solitude? For socializing?
*Quote by Carl Sandburg selected from Wabi Sabi: The Art of Everyday Life(2006), a book you will be hearing more about in the coming weeks.
If you don't know what Wabi Sabi means, please don't look it up. Make something up and let me know in the comments section what you create before you read Post #86, which if you are a subscriber, will be popping up in your inbox Saturday morning.
Sign up by clicking above my picture on the blog. You can find it here: www.NickyMendenhall.blogspot.com.
Get all the solitude I can and relish in it. When I don't get enough I suffer energy wise; feel exhausted and seek the next time of solitude. Most of the time this works for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Larry. Interesting you have made the connection between lack of solitude and lack of energy. It's the same for me though I haven't always known this.
ReplyDeleteWas just pondering the need for solitude and connecting just yesterday and how they need to be optimal-- optimal would be different for each person--for the most energy and for being our best selves. Also, how the quality of the socialization is very important. Going deeply gives me energy; cocktail party chit chat wears me out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out that the quality of our socializing makes a big difference. I think the quality of our solitude also matters. Would love to hear your thoughts.
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