Solitude - Not Desolation

“The mind can weave itself warmly in the cocoon of its own thoughts, and dwell a hermit anywhere.” -- James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), American poet, critic, editor, and diplomat


I do not wish to live in, or even spend time in, a place like this, even though I am a an introvert.

Because an introverted person needs solitude doesn't mean that he or she desires to live entirely beyond the pale of human civilization. Of course sometimes well-meaning extroverts (those are the worst kind) can make an introvert temporarily experience a great desire to do just that. This precariously perched high mountain cabin, however, is probably not the sort of place most introverts would look for to escape the annoying extroverts at their heels.

After all, their motivation for seeking out solitude is not to be isolated from the rest of the human race. (With exceptions, of course, but I am speaking of introverts generally, and of myself in particular). The motivation is to be able to think, and to plan, often to read, sometimes to listen, and to work on things alone (be it mentally or physically or both). Eventually from their quiet place they will, after having had the time and space they need, be ready to re-enter the social milieu ... but always, they hope, with a place nearby where they can return to the solitude they need in order to be themselves, refresh themselves, and think most clearly and well.

These places of escape and solitude do not always have to be where there are no other people around. If they are able to concentrate and are left alone many introverts can relax and think and do quite a bit even in a crowd of people. With extroverts far outnumbering introverts, though, it's often hard to find such peace among other people, unless you're in a place where no one knows you and is unlikely to approach you.

That austere mountain cabin in the above picture, though...I have no desire for anything that isolated myself, and believe me, I am one of those people who really do enjoy being alone and would almost always rather be alone (in the library, at the computer, reading a book, watching the birds, drawing, planning, etc.). The point is not to escape the rest of humanity but to be able to bring our best selves to it.