Solitude: Taking Time To Enjoy the Gift of Silence

Solitude. I was blessed with the gift of silence and solitude a few days ago when I happened to show up thirty minutes early for a dance class.

Fortunately, another class had just ended so the studio was open. However, when the dancers left the studio, I was alone. Really alone. There wasn’t another human being in the entire building. I began to feel a little anxious and upset.

Where was everyone? Why weren’t people arriving for the ten o’clock dance class? Did I drive the forty-five miles from my home in Denver to Boulder for nothing? My anxiety escalated as I watched the dancers from the previous class get in their cars and drive away and I realized I was alone in an empty building. That was not a comfortable feeling. It was even a little bit creepy. Maybe I should just get back in my car and drive home.

Then I realized that I had been given a rare and wonderful opportunity. The opportunity to be alone with my thoughts. There I was, in a beautiful, sun-filled space with time for quiet introspection. What a treat!

I had a full twenty minutes of sweet solitude.  I was able to relax, refresh, and enjoy the sensation of the sun on my face while I listened to the rhythm of my breathing and the sound of my heartbeat. The sound of the building answered my rhythm with its own. It was a lovely somatosensory experience. My anxiety quickly melted away.

I was enjoying myself so much that I was almost disappointed when my teacher showed up. Apparently I had the time wrong. Class didn’t start until ten thirty. Oops. However, if I hadn’t made that mistake, I would have missed out on an incredible opportunity to refresh myself. As well as a reminder that it’s good to spend time alone.

I think I’ll make a habit out of spending time alone more often. It’s amazing how even just a few minutes of solitude can clear your mind, refresh your spirit, and rejuvenate your soul. There is nothing quite like solitude, and the gift of silence. It’s so good for the health and well-being of your body, mind, and spirit!