Solitude. That's the title of this posting (probably the long-awaited posting too =P). This is the word that invokes a mix of emotions. The association it has with sadness, loneliness, slience, peacefulness...the negativity of this word has associations with. This is one power noun that baffles me constantly as I have my share of mix emotions towards it.
Why Solitude? And why not Solitude? Why do so many people fear being in solitude? Why not learn to enjoy and indulge in it? The strong association that Solitude has with loneliness might explain why. Just like someone who fears loneliness like me. We totally shun Solitude. We won't expose ourselves to the risk of landing up in a state like this. Even if the risk of ending up being in solitude becomes evident, we will exasperately come up with measures to minimize the gravity of the situation.
I'm always very much amused by the reactions of others when they hear of me having to do something alone. The most 'pitiful' solitude activity to engage oneself in is, unanimously, having to have a meal alone. Having to eat alone in, be it a canteen, a food court or a fast food joint, is seemingly the saddest and loneliest activity that most people will avoid at all cost. I was once like one of these many people. Back in the days in NUS, I would rather skip lunch or grab something to bite. I rather not go through the painful process of lunching alone in a crowded canteen with the large groups of people enjoying their chats and laughter over lunch.
But i soon grow to realize there's actually nothing to be afraid of. You can sit yourself right in the centre of the canteen, chowing away your food, oblivious to the rest of the world. Noone really gives it a damn when you eat alone. They cant be bored to pity you for being the loner lunching at the corner, for they are too busy chatting or laughing to notice.
And so the same goes with watching movies or shopping. For the first time in my life i went to catch a movie all by myself last Friday night. Just because i couldnt find anyone to go with me and that I didnt want to miss it out again. It was fun to be by yourself. Dining alone means i get to eat what i want (Subway) and i get to do some reading while dining. Shopping alone is fine with me. Except i missed the part about getting advices from my possible shopping kakis. Visiting the library alone is another favourite activity of mine. You can catch me at the library almost every other day (that's already my second home in case you are not aware). There's a million and one thing you can do in solitude and even derive enjoyment from it.
Everyone has their own lives, their own friends and families and their beloved other halves. Why not learn to enjoy solitude? It's not as fearful as it seems. But of course, too much of anything is never good. So don't forget to make time for your friends and families.
Cheers to one of the great things in life. A few hours (or even more?) of quiet Solitude.
Why Solitude? And why not Solitude? Why do so many people fear being in solitude? Why not learn to enjoy and indulge in it? The strong association that Solitude has with loneliness might explain why. Just like someone who fears loneliness like me. We totally shun Solitude. We won't expose ourselves to the risk of landing up in a state like this. Even if the risk of ending up being in solitude becomes evident, we will exasperately come up with measures to minimize the gravity of the situation.
I'm always very much amused by the reactions of others when they hear of me having to do something alone. The most 'pitiful' solitude activity to engage oneself in is, unanimously, having to have a meal alone. Having to eat alone in, be it a canteen, a food court or a fast food joint, is seemingly the saddest and loneliest activity that most people will avoid at all cost. I was once like one of these many people. Back in the days in NUS, I would rather skip lunch or grab something to bite. I rather not go through the painful process of lunching alone in a crowded canteen with the large groups of people enjoying their chats and laughter over lunch.
But i soon grow to realize there's actually nothing to be afraid of. You can sit yourself right in the centre of the canteen, chowing away your food, oblivious to the rest of the world. Noone really gives it a damn when you eat alone. They cant be bored to pity you for being the loner lunching at the corner, for they are too busy chatting or laughing to notice.
And so the same goes with watching movies or shopping. For the first time in my life i went to catch a movie all by myself last Friday night. Just because i couldnt find anyone to go with me and that I didnt want to miss it out again. It was fun to be by yourself. Dining alone means i get to eat what i want (Subway) and i get to do some reading while dining. Shopping alone is fine with me. Except i missed the part about getting advices from my possible shopping kakis. Visiting the library alone is another favourite activity of mine. You can catch me at the library almost every other day (that's already my second home in case you are not aware). There's a million and one thing you can do in solitude and even derive enjoyment from it.
Everyone has their own lives, their own friends and families and their beloved other halves. Why not learn to enjoy solitude? It's not as fearful as it seems. But of course, too much of anything is never good. So don't forget to make time for your friends and families.
Cheers to one of the great things in life. A few hours (or even more?) of quiet Solitude.
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