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A lot of people don't understand that being by yourself is no the same thing as being "lonely". "Lonely" implies that you are missing interaction with others.
by godshatter 8y ago
A lot of people don't understand that being by yourself is no the same thing as being "lonely". "Lonely" implies that you are missing interaction with others. When I'm alone, I generally breathe a sigh of relief because a lot of the time socialization is work for me, and it's work I'm not very good at.
I'm almost never lonely when I'm alone, I'm too involved in whatever I'm doing. Even if I'm bored, I'm generally not lonely. I get more lonely when I'm in a group of people I don't really know well than I ever do when I'm alone in my own house. Mostly because I wish I knew them better than I do and wouldn't feel so left out.
- Razengan 8y agoSolitude: A voluntary disconnect. Pleasant. You can return to socializing whenever you want. Loneliness: Being alone against your choice, seemingly unable to change it, even when you are in contact with people.
- clucas 8y agoDonald Hall wrote beautifully about this: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/double-solitude https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/double-solitu...
- telesilla 8y agoOh yes: "Now and then, especially at night, solitude loses its soft power and loneliness takes over. I am grateful when solitude returns."