My husband Matt was out of the country for the last three weeks and was mostly out of communication. Add to that. I don’t have a job that I go to every day or regular co-workers that I stay in touch with daily. I have friends, but alas, they all have their own lives.

So there we were, Roxy and I, on our own for three solid weeks. I can’t recall a time that I’ve had more than a few days to myself in a long time, so three weeks felt substantial. And I was ready to steep in some alone time like a gas station tea bag stays in the bottom of a 20oz paper cut for the entire day.

The following is what I learned during this time.

#1 Thankfully and gratefully, I very much enjoy my own company. However, if I didn’t have Roxy to discuss the finer points of life with, I think I would not be as happy to spend time alone.

#2 Like an iguana in an aquarium, I will take up the space if it’s available with art projects. As in, I will start new projects to take up space with.

No, we don’t need a kitchen table, why do you ask?

#3 I like silence—a lot.

#4 Without anyone to talk to, I will watch a lot of lessons on Skilshare (please see the above-mentioned new art projects).

#5 My creative pursuits do not stay in their lane. I thought I would paint for hours on end, but instead -

I knit.
I spun wool on my spinning wheel.

I dabbled in making my own sourdough bread (an experiment still in progress; I’ll report later on how it went).

The above was lovely, but the most exciting thing I did (and let’s be clear, we are using the term exciting as in what a snail would find exciting.)

For many years, I have wanted to be the kind of person who illustrated their journal, someone who lingered over the lettering and the sketches. Someone who sketched in their journal -at all.
And now I am!!

Since I took over the dinner table with my markets and paints, I just left my sketchbook turned journal laying out, and when I’d walk by, I’d doodle or write something about the day.

It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch, but I’ve enjoyed capturing the memories of my days in this way.
I don’t know if I can maintain this extra low and slow practice in real-time, but for now, I’m very much enjoying being the kind of person who lingers in the morning over their sketchbook.

What about you?
What is your go-to for unplanned alone time or large swaths of time to yourself?

Lessons in Solitude

I’d love to stay in touch!
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Lessons in Solitude

Well-Worn Walking Shoes and Densly Overgrown Thought Trails

Dear Diary, I’m Having so Much Fun!

I’d love to stay in touch!If you’d like a fun, possibly overly wordy newsletter that is extra heavy on the exclamation points delivered to your inbox every other week, then drop your email in the Subscribe Box.

I’d love to stay in touch!
If you’d like a fun, possibly overly wordy newsletter that is extra heavy on the exclamation points delivered to your inbox every other week, then drop your email in the Subscribe Box.