Yesterday, after a week of house renovations, followed by four days of houseguests, I drove my dad and his lady friend three hours north, where my brother met me at Wendy’s for the elderly-parent hand-off. After we hugged and kissed goodbye, my brother drove north to take the parents to his home. And I turned to get back into my car.
As I drove down the snowy highway, I realized it was the first time in weeks I was completely quiet–just me and my thoughts.
I adore my people—the 88-year-old ones visiting from out of town right down to the elementary-aged ones living under my roof. But for an introvert like me, constant interaction of this nature can only last so long before every gram of energy is sucked out of my brain and I become a puddle of mush in the back-back of my GMC Acadia.
That is what I feel like today. Mush.
For me, solitude is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s like Sabbath for my brain.
I’m not saying it’s easy. Or convenient, even. Being a communicator, I process information through talking about it or writing about it. Most of the time, I don’t even know what I think about something until I hear myself say it or read something I’ve written. Solitude does not come naturally to me.
Just while attempting to write this post (alone, in the quiet), I’ve switched laundry twice, checked e-mail thrice, read three blog articles (commented on one), answered the phone multiple times and sent two texts.
I have had a terrible time trying to process a coherent thought on the subject of solitude.
Perhaps because solitude is the very thing I need.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, my soul craves quiet today. Even though I have ten other things pulling at me (not the least of which is the writing of this post), I hereby declare I have nothing new to tell you that would be more beneficial than simply letting myself be silent.
So, instead of continuing to forcefully place each word on this screen, I’m going to just let it be. I’m going to spend my remaining hours while the children are at school in silence.
After all, it is Holy Week. What a perfect time to be quiet on purpose.
Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, communicator or not, solitude is an essential element of a well-balanced life. Here are a few blog posts I’ve written on the importance of solitude. Because, like I just told you, I have nothing new to say. Yet, I choose to keep talking.
Talk to me about solitude. Do you embrace it? Do you fight it? Do you hate it? Do you crave it? Do you practice it? Or do you wait until your brain turns to mush and then put a pillow over your head?
I’m in. I need solitude also. If I finally get my mind to shut off the ‘to do’ list long enough to actually sit in silence, I fall asleep! Would a large dose of caffiene be counter productive? LOL!
This extrovert needs alone time as well… and I drive to work every morning without the radio or CD playing. It’s an extension of my quiet time/prayer time. I love it.
Enjoy the solitude and Happy Easter!
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I often drive in silence, too. Especially just before picking up my sweet kiddos. It prepares me for the non-stop chatter/bickering that happens on the ride home.