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I’m so excited! I’m off to a Precious Metal Clay class. Wheee!
In other news… the Friday Five.
1) What's your favorite food indulgence when you're alone?
Well, I wouldn’t call either of them food… if I have to munch on something, it would likely be chocolate. But the thing I do indulge in for quiet moments is a cup of tea. The type depends upon my mood.
2) What's your favorite activity when you're alone?
I do most of my hobbies alone. Lately, my favourite alone-time activities have been to sit in the papasan chair with tea, a candle and low light to read a book or to sit in my library at my desk with good music, scented candles and a jewelry project… oh, and a cup of tea.
3) How much alone time is just enough to satisfy the craving for solitude?
Hard to say. It changes. I was an only child in a neighborhood of mostly adults with no other children in my extended family. I always had heaps of alone-time. I’m good at it. I never get bored and I probably need more of it than others simply because I was such a solitary child. I very much enjoy my people time, though. I guess because I am a very self-reliant and solitary person, that is why I so enjoy the company of others. Maybe because I don’t NEED it I can be more totally present and thoroughly enjoy and appreciate others.
4) How often do you need the time?
See above.
5) Do you tell people you want to be alone or do you wait for an opportunity to arise?
If I feel overwhelmed by people and need to be solitary, I will ask if necessary. If, for example, I know that I will have to be public for another few hours, no problem. I can wait it out and cloister when I am through. If I know I will be in a public forum for days on end and I need some Caroltime, I have no problems saying so and I go off to create that space.
All this begs me to follow with some thoughts. How do people perceive their solitary time? Personally, I can be in a room full of people and still be alone. It depends on how I arrange the energy around me. For example, I can find solitary time sitting in a café where people are buzzing around me. I can either sit and block it all out (if someone wants my attention they have to pound me over the head to get it), or I can sit by myself and people-watch. This counts as alone time to me simply because I am sitting in the environment but I am not part of it. It’s sort of like watching a movie. I pull myself into the furniture and disappear. Can others do this?
Another thought is, how do people rate their alone time at their homes? By this I mean, when you are alone at home, are you content? Do you climb the walls and wish for company? Or do you try to drown the aloneness with TV? I love my space. I have filled it with such lovely soft, warm things that even when there is no one there but me, I can still feel the resonance of my loved ones within my walls. How can I ever be lonely?
Also, do you consider yourself alone even when your partner or housemate is there with you? Even when G is home and tinkering in his office, I still have my alone time. I find it easy to disconnect and forget that he is even there if I really want to accomplish something by myself. The dogs are easy as they rarely intrude upon alone time. They really can feel the energy I put out and respect it. During alone time, they could be sitting on my lap and it wouldn’t distract me. Even my youngest, who often pesters us to play, will perceive when it’s quiet time and just sit with me.
Okay, off to class. This introspective moment has been brought to you by the number 1 and the dipthong sh.
In other news… the Friday Five.
1) What's your favorite food indulgence when you're alone?
Well, I wouldn’t call either of them food… if I have to munch on something, it would likely be chocolate. But the thing I do indulge in for quiet moments is a cup of tea. The type depends upon my mood.
2) What's your favorite activity when you're alone?
I do most of my hobbies alone. Lately, my favourite alone-time activities have been to sit in the papasan chair with tea, a candle and low light to read a book or to sit in my library at my desk with good music, scented candles and a jewelry project… oh, and a cup of tea.
3) How much alone time is just enough to satisfy the craving for solitude?
Hard to say. It changes. I was an only child in a neighborhood of mostly adults with no other children in my extended family. I always had heaps of alone-time. I’m good at it. I never get bored and I probably need more of it than others simply because I was such a solitary child. I very much enjoy my people time, though. I guess because I am a very self-reliant and solitary person, that is why I so enjoy the company of others. Maybe because I don’t NEED it I can be more totally present and thoroughly enjoy and appreciate others.
4) How often do you need the time?
See above.
5) Do you tell people you want to be alone or do you wait for an opportunity to arise?
If I feel overwhelmed by people and need to be solitary, I will ask if necessary. If, for example, I know that I will have to be public for another few hours, no problem. I can wait it out and cloister when I am through. If I know I will be in a public forum for days on end and I need some Caroltime, I have no problems saying so and I go off to create that space.
All this begs me to follow with some thoughts. How do people perceive their solitary time? Personally, I can be in a room full of people and still be alone. It depends on how I arrange the energy around me. For example, I can find solitary time sitting in a café where people are buzzing around me. I can either sit and block it all out (if someone wants my attention they have to pound me over the head to get it), or I can sit by myself and people-watch. This counts as alone time to me simply because I am sitting in the environment but I am not part of it. It’s sort of like watching a movie. I pull myself into the furniture and disappear. Can others do this?
Another thought is, how do people rate their alone time at their homes? By this I mean, when you are alone at home, are you content? Do you climb the walls and wish for company? Or do you try to drown the aloneness with TV? I love my space. I have filled it with such lovely soft, warm things that even when there is no one there but me, I can still feel the resonance of my loved ones within my walls. How can I ever be lonely?
Also, do you consider yourself alone even when your partner or housemate is there with you? Even when G is home and tinkering in his office, I still have my alone time. I find it easy to disconnect and forget that he is even there if I really want to accomplish something by myself. The dogs are easy as they rarely intrude upon alone time. They really can feel the energy I put out and respect it. During alone time, they could be sitting on my lap and it wouldn’t distract me. Even my youngest, who often pesters us to play, will perceive when it’s quiet time and just sit with me.
Okay, off to class. This introspective moment has been brought to you by the number 1 and the dipthong sh.
