How Do You Find Solitude?

,

simply because I need solitude

“Solitude” is the theme for this week’s photo challenge hosted by Hugh’s Views and News. 

Featured in this photo is my daughter finding a moment of solitude on the beach surrounded by other swimmers. Lost in her own world, she simply sits in the wet sand enjoying the sun as waves roll back and forth over her feet. I have several photos of her over the years in this very position.

What brings you solitude and where do you look for it? As a “former” introvert, I needed quiet time and solitude to recharge my battery after a long day. This quote suggests that asking to be left alone may be off-putting to others around us.

Many of us bloggers are likely introverts by nature given the fact that we love to read and prefer to get lost in a good book, rather than talk about our feelings or spend time socializing.

It is possible to grow out of being an introvert. By the time I reached my mid-40s and experienced graduate school with a classroom of 20-30-something students, I relished the social connections made during evening classes. By the time classes got done at 9:00 pm, trying to go to sleep at a decent hour after being charged up with great classroom debate was difficult. In my previous introverted days, three hours of social debate and discourse would have exhausted me and bedtime would have been welcomed!

Although I classify as a mild extrovert according to Myers-Briggs Temperament Inventory, I still seek solitude in quiet places. I still get lost in a good book, and reading on the beach or in the mountains will take me into solitude quickly.

Temperament and personality assessment is a fascinating subject. Click on one of my old posts, “Brief Introductions to Temperaments” if you are interested.

And please feel free to join Hugh’s weekly photo challenges any time.

Where do you find solitude?


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27 responses to “How Do You Find Solitude?”

  1. I love my walks with Zeke. Though I guess technically I am not alone, he doesn’t exactly disrupt my contemplations… My mind is set free to go where it will and I find myself re-connecting with me. Nothing better than solitude when we desire it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes! Love the solitude in walking my dogs. I get so many good ideas for the blog and the opportunity to clear my mind and gain another perspective!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. We are quite alike Terri! I love getting lost in a book and I find I need time alone to reflect and breathe. Some people feel that having solitude means you are lonely but that is far from the truth. Thank you for linking up with us at Over the Moon. I always enjoy your writing. xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks,Sue, always a pleasure to hear from you!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Terri yes we should talk more often! I wanted to tell you that your post was in my top two picks for Over the Moon this week. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I found the Temperament and Personality assessments interesting. Have a great weekend!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh, Sue, that’s great, thanks so much!!

        Like

  3. I also went with a beach scene for my solitude post Terri. I was very shy when I was young, and still remain intrinsically shy though I am more outgoing than I used to be!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There is just something about the beach!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks Terri, glad you enjoyed!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Such a nice photo. As much as I enjoy being around people and being social to some degree- I do love solitude.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! I feel a lot of writers use solitude for reflection.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Lovely post Terri, and great photo. It’s about getting some extra me-time I think. And sometimes it only needs to be a short break away.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, DJ! Escape comes in all packages 🙂

      Like

  6. A great example of solitude, Terri. You daughter looks to be enjoying every moment of her solitude despite being surrounded by other people on the beach. I think the sound of waves also help in getting our minds to relax and to enjoy the moment. We should all take more solitude moments. I’m sure we’d all benefit greatly from it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Hugh! I had a whole ‘nother photo planned, then ran across this one. It spoke a few more volumes of solitude! Great challenge!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I remember you saying how you had so many photos for this week’s prompt. The one you chose is great. It really shows what being in solitude is all about.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. I think there are many degrees of introversion, probably just as there are for extroversion. I definitely consider myself an introvert, but I also enjoy being social. I recently read an article that, through a series of questions, pinpointed ones introversion along an X Y axis chart… it was really interesting. I love the picture of your daughter alone with her thoughts.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Janis, there are degrees of both. Sometimes I feel I jump around on that scale 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Lovely photo, Terri! Solitude is important! It certainly is important to me.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. What a lovely photo. I like to have a bit of solitude now and again too, Terri 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Judy, I imagine we all do to some degree!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Beautiful and insightful post, Terri. The photo is very gorgeous too.
    Who could have thought of you as a former introvert?
    I didn’t. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Lucile and so kind of to say so 🙂

      Like

      1. You’re most welcome! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Wonderful post Terri, I love your perspective on solitude and it’s a great photo of your daughter alone amid all the other swimmers. She looks perfectly content in her own company.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, and I like that…content in her own company 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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About Me

I’m a former university adjunct Professor and retired recreation & parks practitioner living in North-Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle, including photography, friends, fitness, and fun.

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