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Writer's pictureBrandi Diamond

Solitude

Due to the IT global outage this past week, my plans certainly were changed, and my guess is this is true for many of you as well. Scheduled to be at a conference in Philadelphia this past Monday - Wednesday, flying out early Monday morning, I was faced on Sunday with a decision. Do I take a chance at the airport, potentially missing the conference? Or, do I get in the car and start to drive?


I sent out a message asking for some intel from other friends and travelers, and the decision quickly became clear. Over and over again the report back was, "If you can drive, I'd get in the car."


I quickly finished putting my bag together and got on the road. Ahead of me was a 12 hour drive. I had a long space of solitude before me. At first I felt a little anxious to get going, make up some time, and navigate the road ahead. But pretty soon I settled down, finished an Audible and started another, took a few phone calls from friends, and put in nine hours before stopping for the night. Up on Monday, I drove the final three hours and arrived with a little over an hour to spare.


On the second day of the conference, we were invited into a space of solitude for about four hours. Although I had had distractions on my drive, I did feel the space of being alone for the better part of a day and night, which was filled with time to think and time for quiet. As I started this planned time of solitude at my conference, we were reminded there were no expectations and no way to do it wrong. We were given a list of questions to consider during our time, should we choose to do so. We were invited to options - walking around the retreat center on a trail, journaling, sitting quietly in different places - whatever we wanted - even napping. We were reminded that as we saw each other around the campus, to continue to hold solitude, simply nodding and acknowledging another person with a smile was enough. No conversation was needed.


In a world that is loud no matter where we turn, solitude can be uncomfortable. It can take some time for your mind to turn down the volume. It can be tempting to pick up your phone or turn on TV or even read a book. But simply said, we have enough distraction. Our hearts and minds long for moments of calm, to turn down our nervous systems, to listen for clarity and wisdom, to drift into sleep.


Although some of my solitude has been planned and other portions unexpected, I am leaving this time of learning feeling the reminder of how important it is for our lives. If you can, take some time today for a moment of solitude. If you are able, take longer. Allow your body to reset, unplug, start again. Turn down the volume of life for a short time and allow space for what happens next.


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