April: On Nature

April 7

Today's reflection was inspired by another quote from J.R.R. Tolkien, this time from The Fellowship of the Ring.

There is an important difference between loneliness and solitude. One can be devastating for your mental health, your physical health, and just your overall well-being. While the other can do wonders for your mental health, your physical health, and just your overall well-being. You can be lonely in a city of millions of people, and you can find happiness in solitude alone in the wilderness of the mountains, miles away from another soul and civilization.

But in these wild time, often to find solitude, you must be intentional about it. You must actively seek it out. 

Spend time with nature and yourself, have a conversation with the wind and the trees and your soul, close your eyes and just breathe, leaving everything else behind, if only for a short while—your responsibilities will be waiting for you upon returning, you can be sure of that, but for now sit in the peace and quiet and think of a nice ending for your book.

• Reflection title: You Have To Seek It Out
• Creative inspiration: J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring.
• Reflection Question: Am I getting enough solitude? Where in nature can I find it—and what time?