14 Comments
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Sana Ally's avatar

It took me all of my twenties (and some of my thirties even) to truly understand that loneliness and being alone are two very different things. I relate to the discomfort with silence still but i too love to have some pockets of alone time at regular intervals!

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Samira's avatar

Thanks Sana! And same!

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Sana Ally's avatar

I was 25 and a few months when i first saw this video and it absolutely cracked open an idea, as naive as it sounds now, that was so alien to me till that point. Your essay reminded me of this again so thought of sharing with you. (https://youtu.be/k7X7sZzSXYs?si=biTE0ytFju_og6xm) (how to be alone by Tanya Davis, video by Andrea Dorfman) (i love this video, certified emo chick that i am - both craft and emotion/philosophy wise !)

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Samira's avatar

Thanks for sharing Sana!

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Harry's avatar

It took me a long time to be ok with being alone. I am a people’s person and love catching up with friends but I love my alone time and cherish it. Yes, took a long time to understand the difference between loneliness and solitude. Thanks for sharing! I am always waiting to read your essays.

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Samira's avatar

Thank you Harry! I think I started feeling happy once I began enjoying my own company

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Ajay Kelkar's avatar

I so resonate with this “However, over the years, I have found myself growing fonder of my company”. And as I think about this I am also learning to grow fonder of various “parts” of myself who turned up at various ages to engage with the world.

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Samira's avatar

Yes! This friendship with the self is so beautiful ❤️

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Vincenzo Bertozzi's avatar

Anche a me piace,a volte stare solo,

Come adesso,sono le prime luci dell'alba,c'è silenzio .....perfetto per leggere

Saluti

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Samira's avatar

grazie! la luce del mattino e il silenzio devono essere bellissimi

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Franco Wong's avatar

this is a long journey to learn how to be with ourselves.

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Samira's avatar

Yes. The longest one by far!

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Franco Wong's avatar

i noticed how everyone is staring at our phones wherever we go, and it seems we need something else outside of us to accompany us, and I would say the biggest thing in mind that I am trying to find ways to teach my kids is simply how to be with themselves, with our thoughts, and we will be okay just being there with our bodies, our minds, and our souls.

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Samira's avatar

That is so wonderful to hear. I struggle with this too, even though I am mindful of it. A phone free weekend is perhaps the most de-stressing.

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