All By Myself — The Pleasure Of Solitude
It was one Monday morning in July, several years ago. I decided out of the blue against going with my sister on a day trip to Bognor Regis.
Naturally, she was very upset as the day had been planned with my consent. It was to help me recover from a broken long time relationship. I had just flown in from Chicago, where my ex has recently relocated. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant arrangement, but he wanted to relocate, while I did not particularly fancy that. That move was the seal I needed to end the relationship.
The Discovery
In my house that day, I cherished the pleasure of solitude. A peaceful moment to do away with compromise and use own initiative. It was my time of discovery and appreciating those life’s pleasures that has meaning for me. I craved to live my life in my own way.
Of course, as a spiritual person, who is keen to always link with my inner self, I know there’s that part of me, my inner self who knows the solution to every problem I face in life. That part of me knows that when challenges like this come, (which are bound to, for most of us), solitude creates the needed opportunity to find the strength, guidance and enlightenment within.
Generally, aloneness once a while is something all of us should practice. It gives the opportunity for rest and self-examination especially regards the past activities and expectation for the future. A day to animate one’s thoughts with spiritual things. The day and time should suit an individual, but most importantly, one’s spirit must be ready to connect, and you will know this.
‘’There’s a pleasure in the pathless wood. There is rapture on the lonely shore. There’s a society where none intrudes’’ Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
Humble Recognition Of The Cause
The origin of fate lies only in man and never elsewhere, as Shiller said in Maids of Orleans, ‘’In Thy Own Bossom Lies Thy Destiny’’. This simply means each one of us has to look inside us for THE CAUSE of whatever misfortunes and distress that befall us. This humble recognition of guilt opens up THE GRACE OF GOD resting in the Laws of Creation, which alone grant release from sin and thereby forgiveness.
Withdrawing into ‘one’s closet’ should, therefore, be totally free of any distraction. It is a time when the account of one’s life is reviewed as well as a plan is drawn out for the future. The account of the past week, have we treated others as ourselves, have we shown enough love to others we come across? Have we given the needed support to the needy, even in our own little corner? If we have failed in any of these, Lord Almighty Father, forgive us.
Allow The Spirit To Seek Out
Solitude allows the spirit, the inner core of man to develop its sensitivity in seeking out to its Creator. This is like having a knock on the door for the opening ourselves to Divine inflow. The spirit seeks out to receive by listening to the inner voice.
‘’In thine own bosom lies thy destiny.’’ Friedrich Schiller (in Maids of Orleans)
The spirit within us, like our bodies, do need to be nourished so that it can grow into the right consciousness that completes THE MAN. As the body is unable to do without water, so the spirit needs the water of life, the spiritual power.
While this day need not coincide with any religious worship day, i. e. Sunday for Christians, the day should be chosen as it suits the individual. There’s always a day where one spirit wants that rest and renewal. A person vigilant in spirit will feel this himself, a day to lay everything worldly aside and connect with the spirit. Every such day will be a milestone on one’s path.
Where Do You Withdraw To?
Withdrawing into your closet need not necessarily be in your room. It can be anywhere you feel at peace inside. I know a friend who goes into a Park to seek solitude with nature. She looks for the quieter part of the Park.
‘’For true worship, only God and the human soul are necessary. It does not depend upon times and seasons, or occasions. Anywhere, anytime. God and man in the bush may meet.’’ — Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are others who go on a mountain top, quiet beaches, or other remote locations. No one way is right or wrong. The human being is unique, so I will advise, find your own way, look for the place that suits you best, as long as you are able to connect to your inner self.
Listening To The Voice Of The Spirit
Defining and appreciating little life’s pleasures that have meaning is all part of connecting to the inner self. Gratitude is huge in connecting to the spirit. We all know how and what we feel when we are grateful.
‘’All things that are valuable for us to know will come to us if we will but open ourselves to the voice of the Infinite Spirit.’’ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Listening is an important aspect too. Listening in a subtle way to be able to hear the voice of the spirit, especially when we desire answers to those issues of life that trouble and matter to us.
Listening provides us with access to sources of THE GREATEST POWER, that if properly applied indicates the direction for us to follow. This is by creating conditions and opportunities that will themselves be revealing, both in their objectives and in their success. What is then important in the listening aspect is OBEDIENCE to the directives that life provides.
Did I make sense of my solitude that day? Definitely, I will say. Yes. I believed, I reached out to receive, and I did receive THE NEEDED GUIDANCE. It is not without vain, the promise is made: ‘’Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks, receives, those who seek will find, and for those that knock, the door will be opened.’’ Matt. 7: 7–8
