The Solitude or Loneliness

Well, really don’t know how to begin this one. I have been a regular subscriber of Lotus Tarot for the weekly interpretations of cards they send. It had almost been a year or so but today, the interpretation I received left me pondering. The subject said, ‘Solitude Vs Loneliness’.

Ah, this moment I remembered a poem we read in standard nine, ‘The Solitary Reaper’ by Sir William Wordsworth.

A couplet in the poem is

‘Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;’

There was a question in the exercise that asked why the reaper was singing a melancholic song. To this, the answer our teacher gave was, ‘it is human nature to feel connected and get affected by things that are sad.’
Honestly, I just mugged up that answer to produce it the same in the examination without understanding the deep thoughts behind it. To me loneliness and solitude held no difference all these years. Thankfully, I understand the distinction now.

This is what I received from Lotus Tarot today.

“Solitude is something you WANT and feel comfortable with, a peaceful, relaxing and inspirational space, and loneliness is an UNWANTED experience of being on your own.”

To me, loneliness is a state of being separated from the outer world mentally while solitude is a state of being connected to oneself. Solitude is desirable while loneliness is feared. Loneliness fills one with an empty feeling while solitude is a way to introspect and fill that emptiness. One can be in solitude when alone, yet lonely in a crowd. So complex are human emotions and situations. It is too philosophical, right buddy? 

What makes me think profoundly is the fear of being lonely. We humans have a tendency to turn the time of solitude into loneliness and then search for an escape. I ask, how many times a day and for how many minutes or hours, do you sit, recollect and analyze your words,thoughts and actions buddy? Perhaps not at all or only a few moments, so busy we are with our Smartphone. The loneliness we feel without friends or a  lover make us enter into unfulfilling relationships and repent them later. I have personally known people who just could not bear living alone and enter into a relation with whoever they could find. This is a pitfall we dig for ourselves. 
One of my friends after his break-up, felt like he was in love with his best friend. This confession spoiled his friendship and later the realization of him being in the rebound phase of the relationship dawned upon. He not only lost his love but also a great friend. 

There are many such examples, I am sure you too can find around buddy.

Why are we so impatient? The next time when you feel alone, pen down the feelings, you would be astonished to see yourself write something awesome. Introspect, read or engage yourself in something constructive. Being with people is not the solution, for our world, our people should be found patiently buddy.

I would again repeat the lyrics of one of my favorites from Guns and Roses,

'Things will be just fine,

You and I will just use a little patience'.
Turn your loneliness into solitude not solitude to loneliness buddy, and for this all you need is just a little patience.