In Solitude - Ed Breeding - Bog

You may ask, "What is the importance of solitude?", and the answer to that question is legion. It has been said that ninety-five percent of our human species are takers, and only five percent of us are givers. In anyone's calculation, that is very extreme, and...questionable, but...perhaps we should ask our individual self, am I a taker or a giver?
If we study the great achievers and givers throughout history, whether they were inventors, scientists, philosophers, artists, authors, teachers and many others who have contributed greatly to the benefit of mankind, we will learn that most all of them, created their contributions IN SOLITUDE.
Perhaps you are an author or a painter. Can you write a book or create a painting in the midst of other people? No... I think not. You must have solitude to think, gather your ideas and then...create. And that does not diminish the joy and importance of spending quality time with other people. It's about priority, balance and discipline in our lives at certain times. But if you know of anyone that you admire and respect that is a creator, you will, no doubt, learn that what they created, which you greatly enjoyed and appreciated, it had been created in solitude, where there were no interruptions or disturbances.
IN SOLITUDE is where we go to pray and meditate, and...to be able to connect and commune with the Spirit world. Perhaps we have all heard of 'the still small voice.' And that 'voice' cannot be heard in the midst of disruptions, noise and confusion. It has been said that prayer is us talking to Great Spirit/ Creator/God, and Instinct/Intuition is Great Spirit/Creator/God talking to us, and again, that must take place in solitude. To be a truly Spiritual person, which entails listening to, understanding, hearing and connecting with the Spiritual realm, that must take place in solitude, in order to achieve the greatest benefit.
One of mankind's greatest fears is the "unknown." And many people are afraid of being alone; they feel safer around others, but whenever they experience the great benefits, they receive from being in solitude, they will soon seek it at every opportunity, and that need not dismiss quality time spent with family and friends.
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can receive from being in solitude is when we are able to see, feel, and truly appreciate some of the smaller things around us, whether it's a small flower by the sidewalk, or the bird in a tree, but by being in a crowd or with a group of other people, we overlook or totally miss those things that great thinkers, and creators see, feel, appreciate, love, and incorporate into their wonderful creations which we enjoy and appreciate. Being in solitude does not mean that we should not be around and spend time with other people, and it does not mean being lonely; basically, in solitude means where great and important lessons are learned, and inspiration and creations are created. Loneliness and solitude seem very similar on the outside, but the only characteristic both have in common is the state of physical solitude.