KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING LONELY AND BEING ALONE

Blaise Pascal aptly said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Even Thomas Hardy also speaks about the merit of being “far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife”. I wonder if we have noticed that being lonely is not synonymous with being alone. Loneliness is often in reaction to something unpleasant that we encounter, or an experience that has filled us with bitterness. As a result, we like to withdraw into a shell and live in isolation. The word alone, on the other hand, has its origin in the word ‘all-one’. I feel when we are actually alone we are one with the world.

I have experienced this when I travel to the mountains. The moment I go there, I feel alone, but at the same time I feel deeply in touch with my surroundings. It seems to me that what I call my ego has sudden started to melt and has found a companion, so loving and compassionate, mingling with the beauty of the mountains, the magnificence of the river and the sound of the birds.

This aloneness also gives me an opportunity to delve into myself, which helps me discover hidden talents, amazing ideas that weren’t possible while staying among people. I think, one should take at least a little time off from one’s daily routine, go into a quiet corner and be alone. One will immediately notice that it rejuvenates our system, prepares us for more work and purges unnecessary negativity.