July 21st, 2026

The Importance of Solitude

“If women were convinced that a day off or an hour of solitude was a reasonable ambition, they would find a way of attaining it. As it is, they feel so unjustified in their demand that they rarely make the attempt.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh (American Writer & Aviator, June 22nd, 1906 to February 7th, 2001)

“I want to be left alone.”

Greta Garbo (Swedish-American Film Actress; September 18th, 1905 to April 15th, 1990)

“I believe that it’s essential for busy women, by which I mean all of us, to pause a moment–this moment–to reconsider the entire subject of solitude. Too many of us approach time alone as if it were a frivolous, expendable luxury rather than a creative necessity.”

“Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be alone to create; the writer, to work out his thoughts; the musician to compose; the saint, to pray. But women need solitude in order to find again te true essence of themselves… The problem is not entirely in finding the room of one’s own, the time alone, difficult and necessary as this is. The problem is more how to still the soul in the midst of its activities. In fact the problem is how to feed the soul.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh (American Writer & Aviator, June 22nd, 1906 to February 7th, 2001)

“In the past I was horrible at this and always placed myself last on the list. I am gradually putting myself first. I am not willing to say I am being selfish because I do so. Instead, I am worthy and deserve to put myself first and find the time to be creative and fully self-expressed.”

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–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 266 to 267 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.