Alone & Loneliness

“Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible.” – C.G. Jung

A distinct difference exists between being alone and experiencing loneliness.  In Susan Cain’s book Quiet, she presents differences between introverts and extroverts and finds many people who embrace introversion crave being alone in solitude.  Introverts thrive, when they are able to read a book in the quiet comforts of a designated space made for the exact purpose, for example.  They are more energized and more focused, when they are alone.  Thus, the idea of being alone is not one to automatically elicit feelings of pity, sadness, nor discomfort.  

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Philosophy & Love

“The Stoics actually both say that the wise man will experience love, and they define love itself as the effort to make a friendship from the semblance of beauty.  Which love, if there is any in the world without disquietude, without longing, without anxiety, without sighing, then so be it!  For it is free from all lust.” – Cicero

Love is made difficult throughout history, and perhaps more in modernity than in previous eras, because not only are unsolicited expectations thrust upon another unknowing individual and are later expressed as premeditated resentments, but also because some individuals forget, consciously skip, or are unaware of the first critical step to loving others is to love the self first.  The power to love another human being reaches its capacity potential from self-derived and self-aimed love. 

Special

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” – Pericles

All human life is special regardless of occupation, status, achievements, material acquisition, and any other socially derived label.  Living is courageous.  Individuals must learn not to fear or run away from it, but instead embrace it wholeheartedly.  

Love

“Evil is the vulgar lover who loves the body rather than the soul, inasmuch as he is not even stable, because he loves a thing which is in itself unstable, and therefore when the bloom of youth which he was desiring is over, he takes wing and flies away, in spite of all his words and promises; whereas the love of the noble disposition is life-long, for it becomes one with the everlasting.” – Symposium by Plato

Friendship

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” – C. S. Lewis

Genuine friendships, and not affiliated partnerships in disguise, are priceless; they represent true riches.  An individual with a few good friends is blessed, and an individual with many great friends understands the significance.  Authentic friendships evolve into members of extended family.  

The Apogee of Human Experience

“Humans have come into being for the sake of each other, so either teach them, or learn to bear them.” – Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

We share our lives with millions of people.  Therefore, our state of happiness is contingent on understanding our interactions with others, which includes knowing and controlling oneself.  Given we are all made up of our own unique experiences, passing or enduring interactions are complicated.  We are all

Authenticity of Self

“Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” -Judy Garland

Fear to show one’s true self is a contributing factor to the rising disconnectedness.  Relationships are failing instead of flourishing.  Individuals attempt to embody what they believe others expect from them in order to keep them in their life, rather than living authentically and attracting others who do

Connection

“If you’re still looking for that one person who will change your life, take a look in the mirror.” – Roman Price

Human beings are social animals and require relationships with others; human beings do not require another relationship besides the one with themselves.  In the former, people need healthy relationships with family, friends, colleagues, community members, and romantic partners in order to gain the