Comments on: Loneliness

By: Scott H Young » Loneliness and the Unconventional Life

Scott H Young » Loneliness and the Unconventional Life — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:29:01 +0000

[...] to breaking free of the crowd: loneliness. Chris Guillebeau has posted similar observations about a life of constant world-travel at The Art of [...]

By: Guillermo

Guillermo — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:30:41 +0000

Good article and comments.
Acceptances of suffer and happiness at the same time, is a part of life. We came to this world and we will leave it alone.
Being in touch we our inside allows us to be have relations with the outside.

By: Mary Miller-McNutt

Mary Miller-McNutt — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:04:48 +0000

Great post. I like the alone time. I can create better art and watch the light slowly spread across the sky at 4:30 in the morning. The quiet and peaceful beauty
is not interrupted by anothers presence. I keep my camera handy to record the swiftly changing light. Beautiful. What a way to start the day!

By: Trackback from Sunryo

Trackback from Sunryo — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:53:58 +0000

[...] I just finished reading Chris Guillebeau’s excellent blog post on Loneliness and I agree with parts of it. Wallowing in loneliness does not help in any regard — something I was forced to learn early in my life.

I have come to realize, over many years, that we will all face loneliness in our lives — and that is okay. I think that loneliness is only painful when we are not comfortable being by ourselves. If we cannot be comfortable in our own skin, we seek that companionship, outside of ourselves, to make us forget what we choose to avoid. [...]

By: Hayley

Hayley — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:50:46 +0000

I am probably the youngest person here as a fresh high school graduate, but I feel at home. I will be on a foreign exchange come August 7, and my eyes are just opening to the world and life I want to live. I have spent much time thinking and being alone. It ususally brings me into a sad slump for weeks on end, but I wouldn’t trade those weeks for anything. Some of the best artwork, thoughts, and actions have been made in my times of loneliness. Thanks for having a place I can feel at home at. It is reassuring.

By: Alex McDowell

Alex McDowell — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:31:31 +0000

I love your post Chris. First off, I want to say I absolutely love your site. Whenever I need any inspiration, I always turn here. Second, this article has prompted some introspective thinking, and a recall of the not to distant past. When I was in Paris this summer, although I went with some friends, there was time when we split up and were alone. This time away from everyone really allowed me some time to reflect upon the recent past. Also being alone, I found that one learns more about themselves if, say, they get lost. I got lost around Montmartre and just walked the streets immersed in the culture and my own thoughts. I had no place to be, and plenty of time to spare, so I just wandered. Eventually I stumbled upon a metro stop, and shuffled down the stairs to the metro. Standing just before that tempting yellow line, I waited for the it. When the train arrived, the air momentarily breezed past me, blowing the slightly humid air away, and it felt refreshing. And that brief moment when the wind died, and before the woosh of the doors opening, I sort of woke up. The time alone had allowed me to centrallize myself and become at peace.

The more important part is that I was not lonely, I was alone, and I learned how valuable it is to me. I had never been alone in a different country and culture, even though France is not as different of a culture as Ulaanbaatar, for example, it was still an amazing experience to discover something I really enjoy.

By: Brooke Ferguson

Brooke Ferguson — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:44:56 +0000

I love that you touched on the somber part of traveling – many friends and family assume I am skipping and hula-hooping around the world with a Crest commercial smile on my face every day.

The truth is that the further we put ourselves out of our comfort zone, the more we are forced to go deeper into who we are. I think that contemplative time leads to self discovery that can later turn into understanding new concepts that we share with others.

Sometimes things hit me in the strangest of ways and I am emotionally jarred until I spend alone time with a particular incident and figure out why. And, sometimes my sadness is just for the world; it is just sadness for how things are.

Last night I was walking down a small street in Bangkok and ran into a soi dog (street dog) that I recognized. Usually, this dog is very friendly and happy and he shied away and looked at me distrustfully. I had a very emotional moment because I realized that this change has happened to most adults I know. One moment we are happy trusting children embracing the world and racing forward indiscriminately – and the next, we are guarded, jaded, and mistrusting.

In a moment I was overwhelmed by the sadness of what most people miss in life once this change occurs. Because you cannot have new life experiences unless you are completely willing to trust and have faith.

A good friend recently told me that she read a quote ~ goes something like this:
The universe will not give you ideas that you are not ready for.

So I commend all of you fellow travelers out there, willing to face yourself, face the world, and face the loneliness in order to better understand who you are. My hope is that in your times of loneliness you can remember that the universe is there and is ready to give you exactly what you need.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:55:52 +0000

@(“a second Melissa) Melissa (great name by the way) Thanks for your comment! It’s always comforting to know you are not alone in feeling, well…alone! It is a learning process and I’m making connections here and there. I guess it is inevitable in the beginning to feel isolated – especially if you are often working from home. I will be on the road soon for a few months – part of the time with my boyfriend and part with just me and the road. We’ll see how things go. I do meet people occasionally who are going through the same things as me, and we can relate and hash out ideas and brainstorm, but those moments are few and far between. Hopefully, that will change once I get out on the road and start meeting more people. Thanks again for the reply and the compliments – and right back at you! Great idea – just adorable! I have three nephews and so haven’t been able to enjoy the fun “little girl” stuff, yet! Maybe one day. Good luck!

By: Nomadic Matt

Nomadic Matt — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:18:37 +0000

I’m never lonely on the road. Like you said, there is someone always wanting to meet up or someone you might while traveling. And with so many travel bloggers out there, I find I can’t go to a city anymore without knowing one person…

By: Melissa (a second Melissa)

Melissa (a second Melissa) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:03:40 +0000

Great post! I wanted to reply to the other Melissa who posted on January 26th. I TOTALLY relate to your post and share your difficulty in meeting people who share these values as well. My thought, at this point, is that it is time for me to just follow my path and sense of adventure and purpose. In the meantime, I am hoping that I will meet some like-minded souls on the way. They say that each person we meet is put into our lives for a reason. Of course, many times we will never know what that is. But, as I have found out in my life, you never know who that next acquaintance will be whom you will find yourself calling your “best friend” 20 years from now. In the meantime, keep searching! As is evidenced by this site, many like-minded folk are out there! PS: LOVE your cause! Keep up the good work!