There’s a big difference between being alone and being lonely. Although I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, I am also quite content when I am alone. Why? Because despite my flaws, imperfections, and the numerous mistakes made, I truly love myself.
It has always been a priority for me to create a home that exudes peace, love, tranquility and positive energy so abundantly that I desire that all four elements are immediately felt and experienced every time any person I care about enters my place. My home is my sanctuary. It is intentionally a safe space where only good things occur. My home is bright, sunny, and warm even on cold, rainy days.
The Christmas holidays are one of my favorite times of the year – second only to summer vacations because I am a June baby! For several years, I have happily hung all of my Christmas decorations immediately after Thanksgiving to provide a minimum of six weeks to enjoy the beautiful bright colors, the meaningful family ornaments, and the festive lights and candles lit daily. As I grew up devoutly Episcopalian (Anglican Catholic), the reason for the season is certainly not lost on me. However, for the past 25 years, I have become more spiritual than religious, meditating daily, knowing that the power and practice of prayer does not require being in a building that represents a particular faith tradition.
Such spiritual recognition and comfort make it significantly easier for me to spend time alone in my home, even during the holidays. I am not lonely because I am at peace with myself, and I am not ever actually alone. Of course, living in different states, I especially miss my daughter and my granddaughter. Thanks to the wonders of technology, I can text and FaceTime call them. In fact, using technology, I spent an absolutely wonderful Christmas Eve 2023 with both of them.
Knowing and loving yourself requires spending time alone. Time alone enables you to understand yourself better. Understanding yourself is essential for your happiness.
Self-preservation is the first law of nature. Know thyself.
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