Inhabiting Aloneness

My friend emailed me this beautiful excerpt from the book, Eternal Echoes, written by John O’Donohue. It really captures the essence of why I’ve fared so well during these seemingly endless months of involuntary isolation.

Photo by Domen Mirtiu010d Dolenec on Pexels.com

“Each one of us is alone in the world. It takes great courage to meet the full force of your aloneness. Most of the activity in society is subconsciously designed to quell the voice crying in the wilderness within you. The mystic Thomas a Kempis said that when you go out into the world, you return having lost some of yourself. Until you learn to inhabit your aloneness, the lonely distraction and noise of society will seduce you into false belonging, with which you will only become empty and weary. When you face your aloneness, something begins to happen. Gradually, the sense of bleakness changes into a sense of true belonging. This is a slow and open-ended transition but it is utterly vital in order to come into rhythm with your own individuality. In a sense this is the endless task of finding your true home within your life. It is not narcissistic, for as soon as you rest in the house of your own heart, doors and windows begin to open outwards to the world. No longer on the run from your aloneness, your connections with others become real and creative. You no longer need to covertly scrape affirmation from others or from projects outside yourself. This is slow work; it takes years to bring your mind home.”

Responses

  1. laurabruno Avatar

    Reblogged this on Laura Bruno's Blog and commented:
    I love this! John O’Donohue is one of my favorite writers. He died young, but his voice remains. I sense that this process of inhabiting aloneness is one of the key transformations a good portion of humanity has undergone in the past two years.

    Like

    1. PamelaHipp Avatar

      It seems those who are suffering the most are those resisting this opportunity for transformation. IMHO

      Liked by 1 person

    1. PamelaHipp Avatar

      Right?! πŸ™‚

      Like

  2. Anne Kelly Avatar

    Wonderful. I needed this today. Thanks so much for posting. Be Well. Blessings. Anne Kelly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. PamelaHipp Avatar

      You’re welcome! I’m delighted it was useful for you. πŸ™‚

      Like

  3. Eroca Zeviar Avatar

    Ya, I get it. But then I HAVE HAD the YEARS AND MY MIND IS HOME! LOL

    Liked by 1 person

    1. PamelaHipp Avatar

      Welcome home! πŸ™‚

      Like

Leave a reply to Michel Chieffo Cancel reply