Solitude
In this digital age of the Internet, social media and advanced cell phone technology, it’s no wonder that any of us are ever really alone anymore.
Even when we find ourselves at home or in the car without another human being present, we still aren’t truly in solitude.
Think about it. We always have the radio in reach for instant chatter, the TV to turn to for some mindless viewing and the Internet for endless surfing and poking around. Oh and then there’s our beloved cell phones, which I like to call “adult pacifiers.”
And don’t forget the newspapers, the newsletters, the magazines and books … the fliers, the pamphlets and the handouts – all waiting for us to pick them up so we can absorb someone else’s ideas, someone else’s thoughts, likes, dislikes and preferences.
When was the last time that you were truly alone? When was the last time that you stopped to hear yourself think?
“Well, Stephanie,” you say. “It just so happens that I went walking yesterday ALL BY MYSELF. For 30 minutes.”
Wonderful. That’s a good first step. But did you listen to your iPod, text a friend or talk on your phone during those 30 minutes of so-called “alone time?”
This is where my point comes full circle. We aren’t truly alone any more. And that’s the problem.
For it’s in the silence that we are able to tap into our well of creativity - the infinite flow of thoughts and ideas unique to us and only us. When we make the conscious effort to periodically block out the endless slew of outside information and influences, we force ourselves to rely on our own heart, mind and soul for inspiration.
And the only way to do that is to unplug once in a while and listen to yourself think. In silence. In the murky stillness. In a lone state of being.
This might scare you at first, but that’s okay. We all need time to adjust to being with only ourselves and not a soul more.
Oh and when you do decide to disengage – even if it is only for 30 minutes – remember to leave the cell phone behind.
Isn’t that the truth! Technology has become the new addiction. People are so tied into tweets, facebook, work emails, personal emails, and whose doing what that we’ve become a nation obsessed with technology and that’s still not enough–we want even more! It is time to disengage. Pay more attention to our own thoughts, our children and give the other “static” a rest. Great blog entry!
Thanks, Leigh. One of the things I’ve put into practice lately is complete alone time. No matter what, I try to do it first thing in the morning before the family gets up for about 20 minutes or so. That’s when I do a lot of free writing – whatever comes to my mind, I put down on paper, no matter how outlandish or senseless it might seem. Long walks help, too. Took one on Sunday WITHOUT my cell phone and gained some clarity for my next novel.
I spend time everyday “alone” without TV, Music, or Internet. Just peace and quiet. I find this is when I am inspired the most. Great post, Stephanie. Consider it RT’d.
Hi Christy. Thanks for the comment. Quiet time really works for me, too. Helps spark my creativity. I’m looking at more ways to create more “quiet space” for myself, such going to a museum or park with just me, myself and I. As artists, it’s important to work in some time for solitude.
Being alone scares me– that’s where I meet myself. I crave it and sabotage it all the time. I think it would help my state of mind to be alone more often.
Being alone with ourselves can be scary – and for good reason … especially when we come face to face with the true desires of our heart. Some realizations we may decide to act on, while others we push aside for fear of what people might think. But it doesn’t always have to be that intense. A fun exercise I thought about doing was putting on some classical music and cutting pictures out of catalogs (like Pottery Barn) for ideas on how to spruce up my house. This helps me exercise my creativity and learn more about my decorating taste. Another “artist date” had with myself involved my boys’ watercolors and some tulips. (See my post – Begin Where You Are). Believe it our not, these exercises are helping me “loosen up creatively” for my next novel. Hope to keep hearing from you, Christie!
Love it! I like to write on my computer, and it is way too tempting to check email every few minutes or look at facebook to see if some fun post has arrived! I do, however, walk my dogs most days, or play my flute, or in some way have some time alone without much distraction. Sometimes, though, it feels like a relief to get in the car and drive without any music or other noise, even if it is for only ten or fifteen minutes. We do need that quiet time. Thank you for the reminder.
You are welcome, Ann. It’s as much a reminder for myself as it is for my readers. As a mom to two young boys, with a husband who travels and a budding career as an author, one of my biggest challenges is finding time for creative solitude, much less for my sanity! Always enjoy your comments.