Solo Living
-just a few brief thoughts
I think I was in second or third grade the first time I made an excuse to our after school sitter, who lived just a few houses away, about why I need to go home to get something. On that day, my goal was to be alone at home, I never went back to the sitters. I craved alone time. I had great friends, I loved spending time with them, but I also needed ‘me’ time, a quiet space. I had no concept of that beyond knowing where I felt safe, happy and content. A few years later I finally earned my latch-key kid status.
What I instinctively knew as a kid is an innate part of who I am. I need that connection we feel with friends and family AND I need solo time. While I loved entertaining; throughout my twenties, thirties and forties I curated and hosted themed parties for friends frequently and I built the opportunity into a job I had at a non-profit. Circumstances have curbed the option for now, but I day dream about it frequently. As much as I loved and miss those times, I also found my balance for recharging.
It’s not shyness, or anti-social, it’s simply a choice. a choice of who and where to share my energy. Solitude is a part of what drew me to pet sitting. Spending my life in the company of animals is my idea of a beautiful life. Me time isn’t selfish, it’s simply human, the time we require changes throughout our life. We each discover our own unique methods to refill our reserves, or, we suffer for not responding to the call.
I place a very high value on my friendships, they mean the world to me. I would do anything for them and they for me. Time with them holds its own form of a recharge. Feeling the power of love, knowing you are surrounded by it is priceless. Solo time isn’t exclusive, we just need to find our sweet spot. Are you conscious of what you need and how much of it you need?
Not to be confused with loneliness, solo time allows for the full enjoyment and engagement in spending time with friends and family. Solo living lets me love deeper and greatly appreciate everyone in my life.