Tag: solitude

Revisiting this craving for post-holiday solitude

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 12 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ♥  Heart Sisters (on Blue Sky)

At this busy countdown march through the holiday season, I find myself physically craving some delicious solitude, and I’m wondering if you too are looking forward to some post-holiday time on your own.

Don’t get me wrong:  I’ve truly been enjoying the lights and music of the season, our family’s group cabbage-rolling and perogy-pinching work bees prepping for Christmas Eve dinner, the unmatchable joy of watching grandkids excited about Santa, and the contagious open-heartedness I encounter even from passing strangers. I love those moments!

But if you’re like me, and are thinking seriously about learning to enjoy more me-time, remember that you may have to schedule it on your calendar. Treat it like it’s the important appointment it is – an appointment with yourself.
Continue reading “Revisiting this craving for post-holiday solitude” →

Craving post-holiday solitude

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 25 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ♥  @HeartSisters

The holiday season seems to be a good time to revisit the importance of solitude.

Don’t get me wrong: I’ve truly been enjoying the lights and music of the season, family traditions (oh, those homemade perogies at our Christmas Eve feast!), the joy of watching 4-year old Everly Rose embrace in equal measure the arrival of Santa and the Baby Jesus story, out-of-town visitors, and the seasonal open-heartedness one encounters even from passing strangers in the Village.

But I’m physically craving some delicious solitude right about now.         .    .   Continue reading “Craving post-holiday solitude” →

In praise of solitude after a heart attack

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 6 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥  @HeartSisters


“Others inspire us, information feeds us, practice improves our performance, but we need quiet time to figure things out, to emerge with new discoveries, to unearth original answers.”

This wise counsel is from Dr. Ester Buchholz, author of The Call of Solitude.  She describes solitude like this as “meaningful alone-time” – a powerful need and a necessary tonic in today’s rapid-fire world. Indeed, she maintains that solitude “actually allows us to connect to others in a far richer way”.

She likely didn’t write that as specific advice for those of us living with heart disease, but it struck me when I read her words that, although they are probably very true for all women, they are especially applicable to heart patients.

Indeed, maybe our heart health would actually improve if we were more determined to carve out more ‘me-time’ during the average day.  Continue reading “In praise of solitude after a heart attack” →

In praise of solitude after a heart attack

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 8 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters


“Others inspire us, information feeds us, practice improves our performance, but we need quiet time to figure things out, to emerge with new discoveries, to unearth original answers.”

This wise counsel is from Dr. Ester Buchholz, author of The Call of Solitude.  She describes solitude like this as “meaningful alone-time” – a powerful need and a necessary tonic in today’s rapid-fire world. Indeed, she maintains that solitude “actually allows us to connect to others in a far richer way”.

She likely didn’t write that as specific advice for those of us living with heart disease, but it struck me when I read her words that, although they are probably very true for all women, they are especially applicable to heart patients.

Indeed, maybe our heart health would actually improve if we were more determined to carve out more ‘me-time’ during the average day.  Continue reading “In praise of solitude after a heart attack” →