Chis, my wife, just started a new writing challenge. She is thrilled that I want to participate since I’m not known for my writing skills. So here is my first attempt at her Introverts Blog Quietly (IBQ) Writing Challenge with the topic of Solitude. Fortunately for me there is not a minimum word length for this challenge. Please check it out. I think it will be fun. And yes, she did help me get an idea on what to write about for this first week.
From Chris’s post
Solitude
What does solitude mean to you? How do you experience solitude? Think about this:
Language has created the word “loneliness” to express the pain of being alone. It has created the word “solitude” to express the glory of being alone. – Paul Tillich
Me taking photos in a hops field. (Chris Donner photographer)
I’m thrilled that Chris added Paul Tillich’s quote. Because my first thought was I live in solitude. Having been so sick for so many years I am a very lonely much of the time. I don’t have a lot of friends or go out a lot. I get to exhausted for that. Being an introvert socializing can be exhausting and on top of being ill, the combination calls for loneliness. But as the quote says solitude is about the glory of being alone. And that is a much different feeling.
Yes, the glory I can relate to in the word solitude especially when it comes to photography. Put a camera in my hand and I’m in my own little solitary life enhancing world. It rarely gets better. For a short time I don’t think of being tired or limited in movement.
Some of my most favorite photos I have taken are of photographers with their cameras. Maybe because of the glory it brings me.
I also adore being outside and sitting on a bench and just enjoying the sounds of nature, the warmth of the sun or feeling a light breeze. Another thing I adore to photograph is benches and seats found in parks or on trails and paths or other outdoor areas. I love to photo benches with or without people on them. Maybe I long to have more outside time with the nature. This is the first year in I’ve been healthy enough to really enjoy being outside. I can actually participate in it rather than wish I could.
Last year when we bought our house, I was so excited I could just walk onto our backyard patio sit and enjoy the sun. There weren’t any steps I had to deal with. This year we have huge pots of tulips, grape hyacinths and daffodils so they are high enough for me to photograph them easily. They are all so beautiful.
As always I have to share some photos I’ve taken.
Photographer at Swan Island Dahlias.
Me sitting on a park bench near the sunset. Photo taken in Arenson Park, in Canby, Oregon.
This last photo is an old one taken with an early model of a digital Sony. Chris loves to walk in labyrinths.
Chirs and I (my shadow) at Crescent City, California about 10 years ago. Chris loves to walk in labyrinths and she made this one and is walking in perfect solitude in it.
Qi (energy) hugs,
Cee
I write Photography Tips and Tricks posts for the everyday photographers without all the technical mumbo jumbo. If you ever want electronic copies of my photographs, please contact me. Check out my left side bar for menu options.
you met the challenge admirably!! And of course I love the photos. I love labyrinths to0- must be an introvert thing!! 😀
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🙂
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You did pretty well! You should write more.
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Thanks!!! I’ll try to write more.
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My wish for you is continued health so that you can take in your garden and sit, whether it be in solitude or in company, with the sun on your face and a soft blowing wind at your back.
Good writing, Cee. 🙂
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Thanks so much Gemma.
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I understand what you mean about illness imposing solitude upon one’s life. It’s the same for me. I’m just too tired to go out and be amongst people much. Luckily, I enjoy solitude so I’m okay with it.
I’m glad you’re feeling well enough this year to get out and enjoy nature. Hooray for Qigong!
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Without Qigong, I wouldn’t be here this summer at all. Thanks Trisha.
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I love that you took up this challenge and wrote something so moving- for me at least. You are lucky that you have found someone who cherishes solitude as much as you do. I have been just as lucky. My wife has made the pain of being alone into such glory, just as Chris seems to have done for you!
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Thanks for your heart felt comment.
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You have inspired me to try this challenge as well. I speak mosting in images as well. Perhaps I can find some words for this. Nature is the great healer isn’t it? I really like the photo of the photographer… classic. How funny about the labyrinth. At one point in my life I had the whole pattern of the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral memorized and i would walk it as a meditation in my home.
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That’s impressive to have the Chartres labyrinth memorized. How cool. Thanks for commenting.
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I was a participant in Jean Houston’s Mystery School for a few years and the desire and commitment came from that. I wonder how easily it would come back.
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I bet pretty easy.
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I love that image of Chris…it perfectly shows a sense of peace Cee. I am glad to hear that better health gives you some more freedoms. I know how that feels.
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Thanks so much Jo for your comment.
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Very nicely written… You did good… Love, Lor
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Hi Lor, thanks.
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This is a great start. Check out my slideshow about the Van Gogh Foundation where I made lemonade. The last photo of the photographer is my favorite of the group. Until then I had never thought of photographers themselves being subjects.
http://woolyandraeski.com/2014/04/03/lemons-and-lemonade/
Cheers,
Wooly
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It’s nice to have peace with yourself =) I am learning this still today….. I can’t say I was ever an introvert, but I’m definitely not an extrovert either.
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Thanks so much for commenting. We all have some of each in us. Some are more obvious and fall further on one side or the other.
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