solitude

I have spent much time in happy solitude throughout life, either through that of my own choosing or by circumstance, it is that choice that currently occupies me and directs my thoughts at this moment in time.

In times of old it was an easily remedied solution, pack up house, leave job and throw a dart at a map on the wall and post the keys through the letter box, my only choice being whether it were a national or international map that would determine my destination, without concern for time or responsibilities mode of transport was never an issue knowing that there will always be something travelling in that direction be it truck, car, boat or camel.

Times has moved on as have I leaving me now with the dilemma of how to pacify this state of mind without packing up and moving on, in order.

Times of solitude by choice has always brought me great peace of mind, the time to dwell to ponder, meditate and take stock of what and who is in my life and the forces that act upon me through others, there is little worse than dogma when wanting to take control of ones own life; research throws some interesting light upon the subject suggesting that extended periods of solitude can lead to depressive type illnesses though I notice also that for the most these models have been gleaned from the study of rats, monkeys and prisoners; of the three none were subjected to this clinical study of their circumstance where choice had anything to do with it; my own experience is that a reclusive lifestyle can enhance the circumstance of a person suffering from depressive type illnesses though only for a limited time before detrimental effects become apparent.

I can remember some occasions when to share my own company was an absolute impossibility there are more occasions however when I could, and did, go for months without any contact with anyone yet, rather than to sink into depression I found a freedom that is otherwise impossible to find in normal day to day life;


"Mans inability to sit quietly in a room by himself contributes to all of the major problems in society" Mahatma Ghandi. 
I am not sure if this is true, word by word, it has clouded in my mind and changes each time I consider it, the intent however remains the same.  

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