Beautiful Loneliness

There is something downright comforting about being alone.

I am not talking about the mass of my body being removed from the physical space of others.
I am referring to walking on your path of life and knowing that it is for you and only you.
When I walk in this truth, I find that I have much more appreciation for those who choose to share moments in time with me. I appreciate the conversation that is filled with substance. I appreciate the shallow niceties of strangers.

There was a time in my life when I did not want to relate to this loneliness. I wanted and longed for a life filled with people and their approval of me. I wanted a life where I could share the burden of my troubles by loading them upon the backs of others. I wanted a life where I could place responsibility for my happiness or blame for my unhappiness in the lap of God.

Then something outrageous happened. Death knocked upon my doorstep and took my daughter with him. No matter how hard I tried to share everything I walked through, I realized that I simply could not. I realized that my life is my life to live. I realized that the lessons I learned and the things my eyes were opened to were for me. I could not have transformed into who I am now without making peace with, taking comfort in and accepting being alone.