Loneliness is not the same as solitude.............

Sociability. What is it?

Some say: Agreeability.

Which means.....?

The ability to interact and get along with most people.

The ability to feel comfortable and confident 

when mixing with others. 

The ability to interact in a friendly and comfortable

manner with new people.

The ability to communicate well(effectively)

with others by using a conscious choice of

words, body-language and facial expressions.

Sociability, as far as I can ascertain, is a highly

valued skill/ability in most cultures/societies.

Why is it so?

Because our ability to interact with others, to organize, plan, 

imagine and visualize events and things collectively

plays an important part in the continued

progress of mankind.

Some suggest that sociability/agreeableness, is a

personality trait that is often displayed by extraverted 

people.

In other words, the ability to ''mix and mingle''

with others may often come easier for people born

with ''extraverted genes'' than for people

born with ''introverted genes''.

Having been told by a number of people that I am

an ''introvert'' have made me look up the word in many

dictionaries and more often than not, compared to

extroverts...... us introverts don't come out too ''good''.

(''Extroverts are good at sociability whereas introverts

are not. Extroverts are agreeable but introverts more

''loner'' types''.)

My own observation is that some people(extrovert) seem to

enjoy and get energized when around a bunch of people.

Some other people(introvert) seem to need to spend some time

alone after spending enjoyable time in large-ish groups.

According to some research done by those in the know,

most of us are ''ambiverts''.

(A bit of both extro and introvert)

That is, sometimes we get energized by socializing,

sometimes we get energized by ''lone'' time.

Some of us have times when we prefer some solitude

and reflection rather than socializing.

Some of us prefer to socialize and interact with others

and only ponder deeper thoughts if or when an unexpected

opportunity suddenly presents itself.

Socializing can mean many different things.

It can be done many different ways.

It can be done in person or through a screen.

Through the written word (texting) or spoken

word(sms-ing).

It can be done through an avatar or a ''catfish'', troll

or anonymous bully.

Many of us probably prefer to socialize some way or another

rather than spending time alone. Especially these days when

there is often an unspoken but known stigma and

prejudice attached to preferring one's own company

rather than ''hanging out'' with friends

or spending time on social media platforms etc. etc.

Solitude seem to often be understood as meaning loneliness

although solitude is a chosen state of mind whereas loneliness 

is often an unwelcome emotional state.

''Loneliness is the poverty of self;

solitude is the richness of self.''

(Mary Sarton)

If being on our own fills us with dread

and seeking comfort in all the wrong places,

maybe now is a good time to find a

quiet, solitaire place and listen to the voice 

of our inner selves.

''Solitude is not so much the absence of company

as it is an opportunity. 

A chance to discover

 the richness,

the joy,

the fullness of life abundantly.''

(Citizen Z)

*

The above image is a sketch I call ''the Tramp''.

Sometimes I just visualize people and faces

out of nowhere. 

Often with stories that accompany them.

I don't know where ''it'' comes from, it just

shows up and if I'm lucky I have pen and

paper handy.

This man, this Tramp, is neither lonely nor

anti-social. He's a man who knows who he is

and where he is going although he may

look a bit worse for wear.

Thought:

It can be easy to judge a book by its cover.

To forget that precious pearls lay beneath

a cover I bet none of us

 would call a beauty.