“I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone.”
~ George Gordon Byron
Me too, Lord Byron, me too.
These words stopped me when I stumbled upon them this morning. One of the great gifts of retirement is the opportunity to stay home and replenish my reserves when I’m feeling peopled out.
When I was young I felt guilty, like something was wrong with me, when I had to fill in the section for hobbies or interests on a resume or job application. Reading and writing seemed so much lesser than activities like skiing or sports.
I’ve grown into myself now and make no apologies for needing copious amounts of solitude. This week I was delighted when a friend messaged me saying she was feeling tired and peopled out and was, therefore, choosing to spend the day at home.
We are not lesser than, those of us who call ourselves introverts. We are the quiet ones, the observant ones, the thinkers, the prayers, the behind-the-scenes ones with unique gifts and abilities to offer. We have to work at making small talk and large groups of people tire us. We are sometimes the overwhelmed ones who need solitude and silence and time to ruminate on things in order to fill us up again.
Today, looking forward to a lovely balance of fellowship and solitude.
“My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music, and silence.”
~ Edith Sitwell
You find the best quotes, Linda. Although I test out as an extrovert (borderline) on the Myers-Briggs scale, I enjoy silence and solitude, reading and music, of course, as my posts will attest. Thank you!
I am truly an introvert but I can be an extrovert when I need to be. My dad was an extrovert and made sure I could pass as an extrovert if needed. I love the quiet and being alone to think, create, and just be. The older I get, the more comfortable I am with being an introvert. I am enjoying this train of thought you have been sharing lately….
I too need lots of solitude and quiet, especially at this time of year. I love that quote.
There is something about this time of year that makes solitude and silence all the more precious, isn’t there? Hope you’re getting a good measure.
We are, indeed, blessed!