From Loneliness to Solitude
To live a spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter into the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude. This requires not only courage but also a strong faith. As hard as it is to believe that the dry desolate desert can yield endless varieties of flowers, it is equally hard to imagine that our loneliness is hiding unknown beauty.
Henri Nouwen
Let go: Does your loneliness feel like a vast, unending desert?
Start over: Gently, persistently tell yourself a new narrative: for now, you are in a garden of solitude.
Move forward: Now, watch for moments of beauty that may surprise and delight you.