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Solitude.

This week on the Equals Record, thoughts on learning to appreciate solitude. 


An excerpt from the new post: "I ended my trip [to New Zealand] on Great Barrier Island, where I washed dishes at a local fishing lodge in exchange for a bed and free meals, many of which happened to include lobster…One morning before I left, the lodge owners allowed me to take their station wagon to the beach (a terrifying experience, as I’d had no prior experience driving on the left-hand side of the road). When I finally arrived, nauseous and a little shaky, I found the sands deserted, with not a single other beachgoer in sight. And so I spent that afternoon alone, with a book and a sandwich and a sweater to guard against the wind. I might, at one time, have found this solitude frightening. But on that day I felt adventurous. Like a daring traveler. A wanderer. A pioneer."



See the full post on the Equals Record, here. You can find past entries from my weekly column, Looking Forward (about the ups and downs of "growing up" in my twenties), here. Thank you for reading, and for your support, as always!

13 comments:

  1. You've got me hooked! Off to read the rest.

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  2. Shoko, this year(2012) I have learn't to be alone with myself. A very difficult thing for me...but feel proud of this achivement!
    Love your blog

    xoxo

    http://aliceinbo2.blogspot.com.es/

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  3. Beautifully written, as always. I get that, I've been working at home alone for a very long time and as you said, bravery is needed and not always so easy to find. Plus, I found that most of people think that staying at home only means being lucky to work on pajamas, so they have no idea about how hard solitude could be (in addition to a gift).

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  4. what an amazing experience. you ARE a daring traveler, wanderer, pioneer.

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  5. Shoko, as always I love your post. This resonated with me so much. I just got back from traveling in New Zealand myself! Part of the time I was traveling alone and part of the time I was staying with family friends. I loved the alone time - rich in solitude and thought-processing. I'm glad you had good wwoofing experiences! It's such a magical place.

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  6. That was so beautiful, I loved the full post! And how fun! I have always wanted to do something like that, so cool that you did.

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  7. wmbg, thank you, thank you!

    Hilary, that's awesome! I'd love to hear more about your trip!

    Tara, thanks so much! And I'd definitely recommend a similar adventure :)

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  8. Just beautiful.

    I could read your writing all day, Shoko.

    Can you please publish a book for me? :)

    Ronnie xo

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  9. These keep getting better! I'm so hooked on your writing and the topics you cover. I can't say I'm as brave as you to set off to NZ alone but it sounds like an amazing, life-changing experience. I love hearing about your adventure.

    Keep up the good work!

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  10. Ronnie and Melissa, what great compliments - thank you!

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  11. I'm leaving New Zealand in two days. I've learned so much about myself and what I can do in this 7 months than ever. Reading about your experience and how it resemblance mine, makes me less scare about going home.

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  12. Anon, I am so happy to hear that it made you feel better. It sounds like you've had an amazing time - you should be so proud!

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  13. amazing article! i definitely cherish my solitude and i've learned after a family holiday of spending 16-hour days with in-laws that i literally cannot survive without alone time. you really have a way with words xo

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