Most people don’t enjoy riding in a car for ten hours. But that’s exactly what I did last month on my latest road trip to Detroit for a speaking engagement. In fact, during that ten-day road trip, four of those days were spent driving sunrise to sunset.
On the last day of my journey, I traveled in complete silence. No CDs, no radio, nada. Nothing but me and the music of the open road. That’s it.
Torture, right? Nah, not at all.
Over the years, I’ve come to enjoy the peace and quiet of this kind of solitude. Some people tell me they wish they could do the same, but they don’t have the time or the opportunity.
Of course, that’s not really true, is it? Most people have the time to take one or more vacations each year. What they won’t allow themselves is plenty of solitude during those times.
Why? Because it’s scary. Solitude gives you time to think. And that’s when you’re forced to confront the personal issues you’ve been running from all year.
Yikes!
Awareness is the beginning of change. But rather than welcome the opportunity to face their thoughts and fears, most people do whatever they can to avoid solitude. They immerse themselves in a life that keeps them so busy they’ll never have time to think.
Today, I’d like to encourage you to embrace solitude. Every road trip gives me a chance to talk to myself and to God. In the silence, I can listen to all the thoughts racing through my mind. It helps me get to know “me” better. I can see more clearly where I‘m at in life and where I’d like to go.
The next time life gets crazy, go off the grid. Find a quiet place, listen to the thoughts tumbling through your mind, and get to know yourself better. You’ll return with solutions to nagging problems and a spiritual sense of peace.
Solitude is nothing to fear. It’s a blessing from God. Take advantage of it!
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Are you the parent of a child addicted to drugs or alcohol? The emotional rollercoaster of addiction is not God’s best for you or your family. Dave Cooke is an Addiction Coach and an internationally recognized speaker. Let him show you how to move your family back on track in a healthier direction by applying Christian principles. To contact Dave for private coaching, go to http://www.100pedals.com/coaching/ or email [email protected]. You’ll be amazed what a difference an hour with Dave can make in your life!
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