Submitted by Fred on

Alone

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Lifestyle

Last week My wife Joanne went away for a long weekend to a Woman's Film Festival and I was left home alone with our puppy Charcoal and my thoughts.

 

Being a social animal I do not fare well in solitude. Thank goodness for the puppy and her walks where we could interact with other dogs and their owners. You might call this Old School Social Networking.

 

Thank goodness also for my cell phone calls with Jo and my emailing, texting, fredslisting, Facebooking and the like. By doing so I benefitted from the concept of virtual reality.

 

Nonetheless, I now know the true meaning of "killing time" and I can't say I enjoyed it.

 

Most important, my moments of solitude afforded me with fertile segments of "open awareness" (which according to Nathaniel Hawthorne is "that pleasant mood of mind where gaiety and pensiveness intermingle") which inspired me to write this piece.

 

What do you do when you are alone and do you enjoy it?

Comments

Submitted by Erik_Scheibe on Thu, 11/07/2013 - 21:43

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Erik Scheibe

I relish my alone time. I find my greatest inspiration when I have time to think on my own. Probably one of the reasons I used to be a "night owl".

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 11/07/2013 - 22:28

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Judy Mauer

I love being alone - no phone calls, very little emailing - reading a lot - and watching movies

Submitted by jeffreyrubin on Thu, 11/07/2013 - 23:13

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Jeffrey Rubin

Hi Fred,
I am rarely alone these days, but when I am I love taking my dog Indy to the beach near us for a long walk and interacting with all the other dogs and their owners. Add good music on an Ipod and its a great time to relax.
Dana Charlton

The only time I feel alone is when I'm driving my car without my dog Annie, or a human passenger (but then sometimes I wish I were alone). Annie and I enjoy walks taking different routes around our neighborhood and beyond and we usually interact with other dogs and their people. I'm so glad you had quality time with Charcoal!

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Thu, 11/07/2013 - 23:43

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I sit on the couch with the 2 dogs and a good book. It's like a 2 hour vacation.

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Fri, 11/08/2013 - 00:19

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When I'm alone I love to crank up my surround sound and catch up on my sports so I don't have to bother my wife and daughter! I also enjoy my time with my little Molly. She is a Shi-Tzsu and is a wonderful cudler!
Kelly Welles

I love solitude in the proper balance. But I would wither without wordly stimulation. I have experienced profound restorative and creative benefits from being still. I forget which philosopher said: "Most the world's ills are the result if the inability to sit still for
an hour". It's amazing what happens when one puts one's mind in "park" and allows
other dimensions to emerge, thru meditation, running or art fir example. Admittedly, not for everyone.

Submitted by Judy_Heft on Fri, 11/08/2013 - 00:52

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Judy Heft

I'm interacting with so many different types people all day (some stressful) that I love my alone time...Nice to be with friends too but I need balance in my life. Some that don't really know my might call me a social butterfly who needs to land and reflect.
Rona Gura

I am "alone" every Saturday morning as my husband works Saturday and the kids generally sleep until the afternoon. I love that quiet time. Although, I do generally use it to write blogs.

Submitted by Lucas_Meyer on Fri, 11/08/2013 - 02:46

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Lucas Meyer

I'm basically a social creature, so I don't really enjoy being alone for very long. With three children in the house, the tumult never ceased, but now that the older two are away at college, the house seems very large and cavernous.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving, our 42nd consecutive year at my uncle and aunt's weekend house in South Salem, NY. The whole extended family gets together, we use antique recipes dating back over a hundred years and an extraordinary amount of champagne is consumed. My son is bringing a friend of his along, because the kid can't afford the airfare back to Tampa.
Mitch Tobol

I really like alone time. It allows me to gather my thoughts and reflect
Fred Klein

I wrote a short story on the subject Alone and it was entitled Enola Gay
Corey Bearak

As some know I have my own space(s). I can listen to music, watch certain sports, read (on or off line). The key difference in my office or car when alone involves music and what volume level muses me.

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Fri, 11/08/2013 - 05:36

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OK Fred....How many times a day did you speak to Joanne ? When I'm out of town flying I call Diane after every leg and before lights out. I have always said...And one of the reasons I finally retired...I hated being in a hotel room alone with my own worst enemy...me ! But being home alone in my own house is bliss !! I can do anything I want. I can eat whatever I want...Watch any movie I want...Play Steely Dan as loud as I want...Have the dogs sleep on the bed...No input from ANYBODY.. It's very cleansing....3 inch T-Bones, clams on the half shell, Single Malt whiskey and all the Cubans I can smoke !! Boo Yah !!

Hollander Sends

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Sat, 11/09/2013 - 09:21

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I love to go out on my deck with my 2 cats and relish my private, beautiful garden while I talk on the phone or read a magazine..second best is catching up on a series I've Tivoed.

Submitted by Fred on Sat, 11/09/2013 - 21:19

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Fred Klein

You get my award as best comment. Thanks

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