Life in Solitude: Blessing or Curse?
As much as I like to be positive about things I can only wonder what part of me that I don't show to the world. Today I couldn't attend my classes today due to a severe head pain, but I was able to read an article about a man who couldn't make friends, couldn't find love, couldn't find peace. It was an interesting article which desribed this man's life to be a life of solitude. Not that he meant to cut himself off from the world, but rather couldn't fit in with the world around him. Sometimes I feel like this man, not completely alone, but more like an extra puzzle piece. A piece that knows it belongs but has no where to go. The man from the article stated that his life of solitude wasn't he worst thing he has ever encountered but it was difficult to bear. He had little family and no friends with whom to consult with. Growing up he had a few good friends, which eventually split up, and had no father figure to push him. At the age of 15 his mother tragically fell ill and passed away. Needless to say, he felt alone. This caught my attention mostly because even though both my parents are alive (yet divorced), I was missing my father figure for most of my life and didn't have many true friends. Amazing how we can relate to someone across the world who we've never met.
The other side of this man's story was him secluding himself from the world on purpose so that he would no longer feel the pain brought upon him from things happening in his life. He resides somewhere in South America (location kept confidential) in the foot hills of a mountain, where he is happy and yet depressed all in the same. He says that this interview was the first time in six years that he has spoken with anyone. He is completely alone besides his two dogs and small farm full of other animals. He says that his lifestyle had brought him peace, his care for nature brought him love, and his faithful dogs brought him friendship. Yet being alone for such a long time made him realize how much he hated his childhood and his inability to live amongst others. In stating this he told the reporter how he used to make people laugh and showed much respect to others but even then he landed no where. This article not only had me look at my own life and how many of these things are things I can relate to, but also at those that don't get that much attention. This man said that he was happy with his life because a new view of life was shown to him, but what of those who can't find their peace? What of those who have no family, no friends, no one to talk to? What of those who find themselves to be the outcast or the extra piece? Could solitude bring depression? Or could it bring peace as well?