Sunday Share: 4/1/12

If you would have told me 5 years ago that I'd soon meet, fall in love with, and marry an Enlisted Soldier in the Army... I would have laughed in your face.

I've always been a planner. Very much Type A, as much as I'd like to pretend I'm somewhat Type B. And the above mentioned "plan" wasn't how I had my Life mapped out.

But as much as I'm a realist, I'm also superstitious. I believe in Fate. And I believe in Destiny. And now that my life has taken a different turn than I would have imagined, I can truly look back and confidently state the following:

I was put on this Earth to be an Army Wife.

And I actually got a lump in my throat and a few tears in my eyes as I typed that... because it couldn't be more true. And I couldn't be more proud.

A few hours ago, I started reading The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks. I figured it was a must read since the movie is coming out in a few weeks. Of course, I felt an immediate connection to the book, with its military ties, the love story, and the themes of Luck and Destiny. And now that I'm already 75% finished with it, I thought I'd take a break and blog my Sunday Share for the week.

And although I've already mentioned Destiny twice in my post, this week's theme isn't about that.

It's about Solitude.

And as much of a social butterfly that I am, I've always been a loner... too. I've never been afraid to be alone, and a lot of the times, I actually enjoy it and prefer it. I just realized that it's been nearly 12 hours since I've had any noise in my house. Besides catching the news headlines on the TV this morning, I haven't had my TV or any music on the whole day.

But to me, I'm never alone. As much as I miss Drew when I have downtime like this, I can always rely on the company of my pets. I can always count on my Dad calling me at some point on a Sunday afternoon. I know to expect text messages from my mom, my sisters, and multiple friends throughout the day. I can always expect an email or a Facebook update on my phone.

So I stay connected to the world no doubt, but there's something powerful about being alone. I love getting lost in my thoughts. I love hearing nothing right now except the clicking of my fingers on the keyboard. And naturally, it's always in my moments of Solitude when the light bulb goes off... and my Life inspires me to write. 

Very early this morning, I had no (conscious) knowledge of what I would write about today. With my cup of coffee in hand, I walked out the backyard and into the field that lies right behind our house. The dogs were leash-less as always, and as Riley chased squirrels and Maddie padded around the grass, I found myself with a huge smile on my face. I stopped walking and really took a moment to soak it all in. And I thought to myself, "why is this moment making me so happy?" And I soon realized it was because of the serenity and quietness of the moment. No one else was around; no cars; no kids; nothing. All I could hear were the birds in the distance.

And at the time, I didn't realize the connection. But now, when I reflect back, I realize my happiness existed in my Solitude.

And fast forward many hours, after spending an entire day in Solitude, and having a moment of weakness from missing Drew... I realized:

It's going to be OK. I was made for this.

I have no idea why I like to be alone. I was raised in a close-knit family, always surrounded by lots of loving people. I've had many great friends in my life.

So, the only logical(?) explanation is that:

Being an Army Wife was my Destiny.

Because not everyone is cut out for the task. Not everyone can handle the stress and the fact that you'll spend many years... alone.

But I can't leave this Sunday Share without the Share piece. I need to provide you with something on which to reflect.

So a simple Google search on "The Importance of Solitude" provided me with a rather spot-on article on Livestrong.com.  And while I invite you to read the whole article, I want to leave you with the importance difference of:

Solitude vs. Loneliness

"There is a world of difference between solitude and loneliness," says Hara Estroff Marano, editor in chief of Psychology Today magazine. Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation and longing, and may be experienced even at a crowded disco. Solitude is aloneness without loneliness. Solitude can be used for reflection, inner growth or valuable activities such as reading that cannot be done effectively in a group setting. People who experience solitude are therefore engaged, not isolated--they are engaged with themselves, or perhaps with a long-dead author

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/180331-importance-of-solitude/#ixzz1qppL08D6

So, finally... I encourage you to take at least an hour a week to experience Solitude. It may strengthen the relationships you have; it might ease stress; and it might make you feel better (or differently) about what lies ahead in this crazy game we call Life.