By Taylor Wade
Taylor: Hey, can I ask you something, Maggie?
Maggie: What’s up, Taylor?
Taylor: I want to go out this weekend with my friends but I’m really stressed out right now because of work and school. I just came back from visiting my family in Missouri and it was a lot of fun; I got my mind off a lot of things. I wasn’t really thinking about my responsibilities back at home though, so now it’s all kind of piling up and I have no free time for myself. Should I just go anyway? They really want me to come bowling with them on Saturday.
Maggie: Maybe you should take a weekend and spend it in solitude. I’ve done it before and it helps me.
Taylor: “Solitude?” What is that and how is it good for me?
Maggie: Solitude is the state of being both physically and mentally alone. But it’s not the same as feeling lonely, which you can be regardless of whether you’re alone or surrounded by people. Solitude is, simply put, removing yourself from society, on your own terms, to better your mental health.