Solitaire
By Rachel Roman Tipton I often wonder what would happen if I
could get myself out of the way and seclude myself like Henry David Thoreau at Walden’s Pond? I often envy him for the time he took to have by himself in the woods. I would have no issues or problems just a peaceful surrender to
nature. Would this really be my reality? I can be completely alone in my space with no apparent threats, but my ego still punishes me. Your house is empty or maybe you found a peaceful little spot
in your home or outside away from everyone that lives there for the moment. What happens next is truly remarkable. Most of the time you do not ponder on the beauty of life or treasure the present moment. Even though you have utter silence you are the one doing the attacking on yourself with the thoughts that seem to enter into your mind. You are on the tail end of your journey of life slowing down so
I ask you to watch the monkey madness in your brain and see if you can switch it over to pleasant thoughts. Be aware that quiet time away should be used for self-reflection, deep contemplation and relaxation. Enjoy these times instead of thinking of the unfairness of life, stewing over what someone said earlier in the day, feeling jealous of the neighbor’s new car or brewing over something that happened over 20 years ago. How dare they do that to me. Like that person who you are mad at is still a young pup and hasn’t changed and grown up through the years. You are starting to come out into the world again, but it is
hard to handle the times of being alone and stuck at home. At first maybe it was sort of nice for some of you to sleep in and have time to play board games. I played some solitaire with actual cards over the past few months. Something I have not done really since I was young before the internet. But now you are itching to have some- thing to do, not feel loneliness anymore and stop feeling a disconnect to others. As Thoreau says, “What sort of space separates a human from
another and makes him solitary?” I may be in the same room as another but not really understand him as he does not get me and this makes me alone. It is when I connect with someone and our minds come together that we are near each other. I may be at a house all alone in the woods but communicate to another by social media my most innermost thoughts and even though we are separated by distance he is with me and I am not lonely. Thoreau states the value of a man is not in his skin, that we should touch him. It is through this method that we acquire new value for each other. So get on Zoom, call each other and really get to the heart of what matters most to find deep connections and you will not be alone.
Rachel Roman Tipton resides in Tampa, Florida and is
the author of a life changing book called Cheat Sheet to Heaven. This is not a religious, self-help or psychological book but is a book about our thoughts and how to change them. The book was developed when she came to the realization that she no longer wanted to feel unhappy, depressed, sad or lonely. For more information please visit
www.cheatsheettoheaven.com.
Joseph Maurino LCSW Marina Maurino
Men, are you ready to make choices in your life?
Holistic and traditional approaches to
Men’s Issues
Relationships •Work • Sexuality Health • “FatherWound”
Spirituality • Communication Parenting
Established reputation and expertise in counseling male clients of all ages to achieve balance in their lives and to ac- cess their healthy masculine energy in a safe and supportive environment.
Joseph Maurino, MSW, LCSW Paramus, NJ 201-261-9129
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