Hermit
I have been refered to as a hermit on a number of occasions these past few years. Personally, I prefer the term recluse rather than hermit, but only because hermit conjures up images of gnarly Tolkien-like characters or brings to mind thoughts of an old bearded troll living in the shadows underneath a bridge. Either way, it’s undeniable that I do live a quiet and solitary life.
It hasn’t always been this way. There was a time when I was very much the social butterfly. And in my youth, I was so very talkative that my father gave me the nickname of Mouth. Now, it’s not unusual for me to go weeks without any verbal conversation whatsoever.
While some might consider this to be a lonesome existence, it certainly doesn’t feel that way to me. The solitude has presented a unique opportunity, one in which has allowed for me to quiet the mind and delve deeper within myself to further my own course of self-discovery. This solitude has provided an inner peace, which has translated into an outer peace. Silencing the tongue and quieting the mind has a powerful effect, the senses become sharper and the world doesn’t seem to spin nearly as fast.
I still enjoy and value good conversation. Talking on the phone with my parents every so often provides reassurance and maintains my connection to family. The occasional chat in passing with a neighbor or the brief encounter with a stranger are both pleasing in their own way. Surprisingly, the online journal provides the bulk of my conversation. Writing as well as reading various online journals provides a communication with the broader world, and the comments that are shared by others on this site and those that I share elsewhere not only offers communication, but it nurtures a connection with friends. So while I may live the life of a hermit, I’m content, and life is good.