{"id":24946,"date":"2015-05-08T15:03:37","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T19:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=24946"},"modified":"2017-06-06T18:15:04","modified_gmt":"2017-06-06T22:15:04","slug":"finding-solace-solitude-alone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/es\/journal\/finding-solace-solitude-alone\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Solace in Solitude"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking for a solo vacation? Embrace your personal journey at a Wanderlust Festival<\/a>\u00a0this year.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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For the past three years I have loved one man. He is a great man, truly. We happily walked this world together and shared many smiles, deep thoughts, and deep love.<\/p>\n

Over the course of the past year it became clear to me that loving this man in the way that he wants, and deserves, would mean sacrificing myself in a way that I could not. And so, as early spring crept in to the Northeast this year, I walked away from my great love with a kiss and a full to nearly breaking heart.<\/p>\n

The past couple of months have been remarkable. I’ve spent much more time than usual by myself. I have never been one who was drawn to isolation, and while there have been plenty of moments of sadness, I have also found tremendous relief. At the peak of spring, I find myself at Omega Institute<\/a> teaching yoga and enjoying deep quiet. I can feel myself healing in these solitary\u00a0spaces, healing deep parts of myself that I had forgotten needed to heal.<\/p>\n

I believe it is possible to be whole in any circumstance\u00a0if you\u00a0are willing to do the work.\u00a0However, I also believe there are times in our lives when\u00a0surrendering to solitude is the best\u00a0medicine.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I believe it is possible to be whole and also in a committed partnership. I believe it is possible to be whole in any circumstance if you\u00a0are willing to do the work. However, I also believe there are times in our lives when\u00a0surrendering to solitude is the best\u00a0medicine. So many of us are afraid to be alone and, in my opinion, this becomes a way of running from ourselves and our necessary work.<\/p>\n

The Gift of Solitary Medicine<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At this point in my own life, I’m intrigued by the idea of solitary medicine. Of quiet space in which to do deep internal reflection and transform our dark spaces to light. I’ve been researching what psychologists have to say on the subject, and while there are many instances where isolation is psychologically damaging (for example, the studies of Harry Harlow<\/a> in which he isolated infant monkeys at birth, these experiments are now considered cruel and inhumane), there are also many psychologists who purport the benefits of solitude for healthy adults.<\/p>\n

Sherrie Bourg Carter, Psy.D.<\/a> reports\u00a0spending time alone:<\/p>\n