Tag: solitude

Companionable as Solitude

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Student walks on levee from classes

As writers, many of us seek Solitude  because of our need for quiet while we write. Sometimes our very temperaments demand that we find a place of solitude in which to refresh or to regroup our swirling thoughts.

Solitary students walks the levee toward the bridge

A college student appears to seek solitude on this lonely levee path. I wonder what she is thinking as she leaves the campus for the day? Notice her bright pink wellies!

 “I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.” Henry David Thoreau

On perhaps a lighter note, there is something very lonely about this lizard…look closely.

Lizard in eternal solitude

A few years ago, on top of my friend’s roof in Mexico, I found this poor lizard, or what’s left of him. Looking for a sunny spot, he got stuck in the fresh paint, prompting this haiku.

Lizard seeking warmth

The ultimate solitude

Ever in the sun

I included this photo for a similar photo challenge in this previous post: Photography 101, Ultimate Solitude.

Here is the first image with the quote. Feel free to pin it if you like it 🙂

Student walks on levee from classes

These photos are submitted for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.

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How Do You Find Solitude?

Posted in leisure, photographyTagged , , , , , 27 Comments
simply because I need 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?