'ISOLATION VS. SOCIALIZING'

💖...on SOLITUDE...and, SOLITARY living... 👩🏻 Being ALONE has a POWER that very few people can handle! - Steven Aitchison 📝😏 Anymore, I love being alone - probably "to a fault," but, I have NOT always loved it to such an extreme degree! 🤔 It's a good thing that, I don't mind it, because, I'm here, all by myself, at home - A LOT! 🙂 However, I can honestly write that, I very seldom "feel" lonely. ☺️ "LONELINESS is FAILED SOLITUDE" - Sherry Turkle 💖 And, I am very thankful that, I don't! 🙌🏼 I have always enjoyed alone time, but, whenever, I was younger, I was much more social than I am presently. 😕 I greatly cherish the tranquility, peace, quietness, etc., in which, I "sense," whenever, I am in my home - alone (not entirely accurate - because, The Good Lord is always with me). 🏡 It seems to me that, there is not a "one size fits all" amount of alone time! 🤔 Each individual has his/her own preference as to the amount of time, in which, he/she likes spending alone.  Learn to be alone, and, enjoy it! Think upon this quote of Jonathan Franzen's:  "If you don't know how to be ALONE, you don't know who you are!" 😳 Just like most matters, a person is capable of being off balance concerning this (too much or not enough - time spent alone)! 😉 I enjoy doing many things here in my home, so, I most generally do not allow myself to get bored, nor, allow myself to stay bored for very long, if I do! ☺️ Through the years, I have gradually developed the habit of being "home - alone," which, has its, positive and negative, connotations! 😐 From choosing to predominantly be a stay at home mother and homemaker (1983), to, dealing with years of depression (in the past), and, other things, such as - anxiety, babysitting "grand angels," ministry matters, a messed up back, etc., I suppose that, I have become VERY, comfortable and comforted, in my home...alone (oftentimes)!  As I analyze this subject, it puzzles me, in a sense, because, I used to be a very socially active person!? 😮 I realize that, I NEED to get, "out and about," more, and, I'm trying to work on that!! 😳😘🙏🏼 I also realize that, I am "off balance," in this specific area of my life, right now! 😳 At least, I'm not deceiving myself about it!!  Right?! 😙 If, you are someone who, loves and chooses, to be alone, and/or, home, a lot, please, know that, I'm not saying that, you are wrong!  I am saying that, I feel that, I need to get out of my house, and, be around people, more than I am currently doing! 😘 I'll also continue, attempting to, listen to The Lord, and, let HIM, lead me, to and through, HIS perfect WILL for me - one step of faith - at a time!! 🙏🏼🙌🏼💙 The definition of SOLITUDE is:  (noun) The state or situation of being alone. 📖 I'm afraid that, for some people, including me, SOLITUDE, may be addictive!? 😳 I fear that I am already "hooked!" 🤣 The definition of SOLITARY is:  (adj.) done or existing ALONE, (noun) a recluse or hermit. Nevertheless, I'm not going to "play the victim," to it, and, "give completely into being a recluse and/or a hermit!!!!" 🥊😙 Maybe, I just need to start playing 'Solitaire,' again (like the old song says, "...playing Solitaire 'til dawn - with a deck of fifty one...!")!! 🤣 There's a part of me that, resists rehabilitation from "addiction to SOLITUDE!" 😏 It's going to be a struggle, but, for the glory of my Lord, with HIM, I can break free from its grip!!  Please, pray with me about this! 🙏🏼✝️💞 Thank you!! 💖 The following is a Jim Carrey (comedian / actor / celebrity) quote, which, describes the matter about which I am writing:  "SOLITUDE is DANGEROUS!  It's very ADDICTIVE!  It becomes a HABIT after you realize how PEACEFUL and CALM it is!  It's like you don't want to DEAL with PEOPLE anymore, because they DRAIN your energy!" 😮 Each individual requires his/her personal amount of solitude, and, must, figure out and adjust, the amount with which to apply to his/her lifestyle. 🤔🙏🏼 I'm working on this situation - daily, and also, "waiting," for The Lord to, reveal, direct, and/or, lead (the very next "step") me - into HIS perfect will for my life! 🙏🏼👣📖🕊💙 Evidently, this chapter of SOLITUDE and "SOLITARY CONFINEMENT," is part of HIS providential plan for "lil" ole me!?!? 🤔🙏🏼😬 OFTENTIMES, what I find myself experiencing in life makes absolutely no sense to me, but, I am always comforted by the fact that, my LORD, not only knows why I am going through any given situation, HE also, ORDAINED it - LONG ago! 📖🙌🏼💜 No matter the amount of time, in which, you regularly spend alone, I sincerely hope that, you thoroughly enjoy it, and, have plenty of SOLITUDE - however - you so choose to get it! 😘🙏🏼 EVERYONE NEEDS SOME DAILY SOLITUDE! 😉 As Steve Aitchison also writes, "Learning to be ALONE, and enjoying it, is the most empowering gift you can give yourself!" 📝🥊🏋🏼‍♀️ One of the most important ways, in which, I spend my solitary times, is fellowshipping with my LORD, JESUS CHRIST, in various ways (meditation, Bible studies, prayer, etc.)! 📖🙏🏼😌🙌🏼 I could not even function at all without HIM, and, spending quality time alone with HIM - daily! 🙌🏼✝️🙏🏼😊 LIFE LESSON:  DON'T EVEN START ISOLATING ONESELF, because, it can become a, bad and dangerous - habit, lifestyle, or addiction (if, you will), that, can prove VERY difficult to - break and/or overcome!! 😘☺️😳😊💖 I am dealing with breaking the temptation to ISOLATE myself from life's challenges, presently, and, it is not an easy task, due to the fact that, I have used it to SURVIVE - for several years now!  Pray for me to get VICTORY over this, please, and, I'll pray for those of you who desire to do so, also (through the resurrection power of CHRIST JESUS, my LORD)!! 🙏🏼✝️🙌🏼 Whenever, I ISOLATE myself, I do it to, protect and AVOID - all sorts of frustrating, people and situations!  However, by habitually choosing isolation, I miss out on the positive benefits of, socializing, and, accomplishing some physical endeavors, among other things!!  I also, feel angry for NOT making myself DO - any one given, challenging activity, and, once again, "feel" as though I've FAILED!!  AFTER, I decide to participate in something, in which, I was tempted to AVOID, I usually am happy that I did, and, am proud of myself - for not "giving in" to the temptation for ISOLATION!! 😉😃 There's a BIG difference between, much needed, SOLITUDE, VS., ISOLATION!!  Everyone needs some periodic SOLITARY time, but, usually, it is not healthy for "normal" people to live in complete ISOLATION from society (with a few exceptions)!  🥊 🖤🎈🎉 Always REMEMBER the truth of this Virginia Woolf quote:  "YOU cannot find PEACE by AVOIDING LIFE!!" 😏🙏🏼 Whenever, someone constantly ISOLATES himself/herself, from -going out, and actively living life, in order to AVOID things in which he/she - DISLIKES, finds uncomfortable, or, whatever the reasons, THEN, it is inevitable that, he/she also, misses out on MUCH of LIFE'S enjoyments, in the process!!  SO, just be careful that you always choose to LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST, so that, you don't have regrets concerning this!  And, getting out of "THE RUT OF ISOLATING ONESELF," IS NOT achieved - easily nor quickly!! 😏😉💕💕 "There are times when SOLITUDE is better than SOCIETY, and silence is WISER than speech!" - Charles Spurgeon 📖✝️🗣 It has become clear to me that, some of my excessive time spent being alone at home (the isolation part), for some time now, has been one of several facets of "the survival mode," in which I've, developed, and, in which, I've been functioning!  Could this possibly apply to, you and your current scenario in life, also?! 😏 The following quote by Ross Rosenberg ('Twitter'), is for me, and, whoever else who needs, to, read and apply, to our lives:  "The HABITS YOU created to SURVIVE will NO LONGER serve YOU when it's TIME to THRIVE!  Get out of YOUR SURVIVAL mode!  NEW HABITS!  NEW LIFE!" 🥊🚗🙏🏼...NOW, LET'S GET AT IT (in Jesus' name and power, and for HIS glory)!! 🙏🏼✝️📖🕊🙌🏼💜...👋🏼...until next post...