Alone But Not Lonely

In today's fast paced society, we've become accustomed to filling the eeriness of silence with fluff. We turn to many distractions as a means of escaping feelings of idleness or boredom. But the main thing we wish to elude is loneliness. Solitude does not have to alienating or lonesome. In fact, solitude and loneliness are distinctly separate.

The death of a loved one or the inability to find people who understand you can leave you feeling isolated. Webster's dictionary plainly describes loneliness as "being without companions. It's natural to experience an emptiness while longing for love or acceptance. Loneliness is therefore an emotive state that can be experienced whether or not one is physically alone.

It was Geoffrey F. Fisher who said, "In cities no one is quiet but many are lonely; in the country, people are quiet but few are lonely. We tend to fill loneliness with all types of distractions. For example, some single women would rather spend a Friday night with a man they have no genuine interest in, than spend the night alone. They long for a way of killing time while they await the man they are actually seeking. Then there are young adults who are involved in cliques where they can't really relate to their companions. However, they would rather feel accepted on a superficial level than risk feeling outcast. So what is it about being alone that scares us?

Do not be spooked by the unfamiliarity of silence. Silence can be an amazing thing. It teaches you how to truly listen. It teaches you to pay attention to what's going on inside of you. Only when we are alone, can we have the space and peace we need to think without being outwardly influenced. It therefore becomes easier to make important decisions as well as identify whatever feelings are culminating within.

Get in touch with yourself so that you can make conscious decisions rather than simply react to emotions. Appreciate the time you have to yourself. Let the peace and understanding you find better equip you for the commotion of today's world.

Denni Gill is an up-and-coming Canadian poet.
www.urban-eden.org chronicles her own spiritual growth.
Feedback may be sent to denni@urban-eden.org.

In The News:


School's inspirational banner teaches a life lesson
Vancouver Sun
But for Vancouver swimmer Scott Dickens, those words, in big red and white letters on a banner at the back of a school gymnasium in his hometown of Ancaster, Ont., four years ago became life altering and a huge inspiration. "Three words that definitely ...

and more »

Moneycontrol.com

US: Arab uprisings 'inspirational' but destabilizing for Mideast
CNN
The report itself says: "The yearning for change we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria is inspirational, and yet change often creates instability before it leads to greater respect for democracy and human rights.
US hails Arab Spring but warns of instabilityeuronews

all 28 news articles »

Inspirational Network's David Cerullo is highest-paid nonprofit exec
Bizjournals.com (blog)
David Cerullo, president and chief executive of The Inspirational Network Inc., tops the list, with $1.9 million in compensation. Marc Favaro and Bill Airy, also executives at the Lancaster County based-network, hold the second and third spots on the ...


Catskill Daily Mail

Dennis Walters Provides The Inspiration To Follow Your Dreams
Catskill Daily Mail
However, what could be certainly considered the highlight of the show despite the entertaining golf antics is the inspirational message woven into the show. “Once I started golfing again, I took to the road and for me, it was good therapy,” Walters ...


Inspirational Journey for female engineers at Atkins
The Engineer
Atkins has joined An Inspirational Journey, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of women working at the senior corporate level in Britain's boardrooms. Atkins said in a statement that it has signed up a team of women that have been identified ...


£600000 for "inspirational" awards programme
eGov monitor
Mr Salmond said the Foundation and the Leadership Award, run in partnership with the Outward Bound Trust for the last 14 years, were an inspiration, helping change the lives of more than 1750 young people who have taken part since the programme's ...

and more »

AFP

'Yearning for change' in Arab states inspirational: US
AFP
The report said "the yearning for change we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria is inspirational, and yet change often creates instability before it leads to greater respect for democracy and human rights.

and more »

DAWN.com

'Yearning for change' in Arab states inspirational: US
DAWN.com
“The yearning for change we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria is inspirational,” said US State Department report on human rights. -Reuters Photo WASHINGTON: A US report hailed the “yearning for change” in Arab countries and ...

and more »

Globe and Mail

The California Historical Society Releases Inaugural Free Multimedia eBook ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The phrase is borrowed from a 1921 promotional prospectus for the Golden Gate Bridge in which the authors, chief engineer for the bridge Joseph Strauss and San Francisco city engineer MM O'Shaughnessy, used inspirational language to set a tone for the ...
Jack Dorsey takes staff on Golden Gate BridgeBizjournals.com (blog)

all 149 news articles »

Obama hails Joplin grads as 'source of inspiration'
Politico (blog)
By JENNIFER EPSTEIN | President Obama on Monday told the graduates of tornado-ravaged Joplin High School that while commencement speakers are generally expected to be inspirational, it's the people of the Missouri town who have inspired him.

and more »
Google News

Anam Cara - Finding a Song for the Heart

All this week I have been singing.This week I have... Read More

Dream Lover

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 1,... Read More

Perception

My friend Donald said to me one evening, "this is... Read More

A Faux Pas Is A Mistake In A Tuxedo

Everyone who is anybody has a hobby or at least... Read More

Oldies

Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 5,... Read More

Brilliance in Balance

"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else;... Read More

Beluga Whale Hits the River

Wonders never cease. Just when those in our area of... Read More

Self Help When Youre In Debt

It's no fun being in debt.Money shortages are always stressful... Read More

Breaking Bonds

I am just out of high school, and I have... Read More

Faux Feelings

Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 10,... Read More

The Red Ribbon

Everyone wants a blue ribbon. Blue. First place. The best.... Read More

Making Commitments of Love and Courage

There is a story about a little girl who suffered... Read More

Play a BIGGER role in life!

Did you ever think that you are not playing the... Read More

To Raise Your Frequency, Just Turn on the Joy!

The feeling response to being filled up with Love from... Read More

Inspiration: A Few More Things Ive Noticed Along the Road So Far

Here's a quote from the late great columnist Sydney Harris... Read More

Number that Decides Your Success

God has created human beings to live successfully. He has... Read More

Learn From Failure and Confirm with Success

Both failure and success are good... if you know what... Read More

Why Self Esteem Matters

A number of years ago I worked for one of... Read More

Change Your Landscape by Seeing with New Eyes

A Story (Source Unknown) ? One day a very wealthy... Read More

Mirror, Mirror -- What Do I See?

"A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile... Read More

The Art of Selfishness

Mature selfishness is the cornerstone of effectively living with passion... Read More

Best Friends

Do you ever need to have your batteries "re-charged", or... Read More

Take Action and Make a Better World

Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, "the world is... Read More

You Can Make a Difference

When I study of world these days, I see a... Read More

Learn to Deal in Challenges

(Excerpted from the 2004 Jim Rohn Weekend Leadership Event)To really... Read More