Post by marycaitrolph on Aug 7, 2011 13:39:09 GMT -5
Every Sunday in church, my minister will say, “Be still and listen for the still, small sound and know that it is God.” He will continue this by reminding us that whatever we do or wherever we go we are never alone. While I find this to be comforting, it can also be intimidating or even obtrusive. Someone knowing my every thought, everything I do-are there no secrets, no hiding places? While considering this I am reminded of my facebook account and how as a society we feel compelled for people to know our every thought, meal, relationship status and plans for the next week. We invite people who are unknown to us into the most private and intimate details of our lives and then question why we have no privacy. In this article William Deresiewicz writes, “Those who would find solitude must not be afraid to stand alone.” Is the opposite of this true as well and if so, what are we afraid of?
What is the benefit of this constant connection to others, are we really afraid to be alone with our thoughts? We make so many decisions with the input of others that we may be losing the ability to see what is best for ourselves, to plan our futures to please others than doing what is best for us. It is necessary for one to spend time alone to learn who we really are-not what someone wants us to be. It is important to remember that this is our life and that the decisions made, must be ours, because it is our life that will be affected. We have to know who we truly are, not just the perception we give to others. Do we really believe that reality television shows portray people as they truly are? These stars become costumes at halloween, someone to laugh at and view as a cartoon rather than the person they are. Society tries to make us fit a norm and how easy it is to lose yourself in that perception if you do not know who you are.
I agree that it is more difficult now to find or maintain solitude. Technology has made it easy to reach out to others 24 hours a day to seek help for most events in our lives. Who is offering their help, people that really know us or the hundreds of friends we have on social networking sites? What makes us think they know what is the best solution? How many of these “friends” are true friends and how many are those that know nothing about us, but yet we place them in the friend category as well.
To answer Mr. Deresiewicz’s opening question of what does contemporary self want? I believe we want what every generation has wanted: happiness, prosperity, health, the ability to change the world for the better and to be able to accept ourselves. Solitude makes us become aware of who we are. We are forced to hear the still, small voice and respond to its calling. What are we afraid of, the answer it seems is ourselves.
What is the benefit of this constant connection to others, are we really afraid to be alone with our thoughts? We make so many decisions with the input of others that we may be losing the ability to see what is best for ourselves, to plan our futures to please others than doing what is best for us. It is necessary for one to spend time alone to learn who we really are-not what someone wants us to be. It is important to remember that this is our life and that the decisions made, must be ours, because it is our life that will be affected. We have to know who we truly are, not just the perception we give to others. Do we really believe that reality television shows portray people as they truly are? These stars become costumes at halloween, someone to laugh at and view as a cartoon rather than the person they are. Society tries to make us fit a norm and how easy it is to lose yourself in that perception if you do not know who you are.
I agree that it is more difficult now to find or maintain solitude. Technology has made it easy to reach out to others 24 hours a day to seek help for most events in our lives. Who is offering their help, people that really know us or the hundreds of friends we have on social networking sites? What makes us think they know what is the best solution? How many of these “friends” are true friends and how many are those that know nothing about us, but yet we place them in the friend category as well.
To answer Mr. Deresiewicz’s opening question of what does contemporary self want? I believe we want what every generation has wanted: happiness, prosperity, health, the ability to change the world for the better and to be able to accept ourselves. Solitude makes us become aware of who we are. We are forced to hear the still, small voice and respond to its calling. What are we afraid of, the answer it seems is ourselves.