The Rewards Of Living A Solitary Life
The Rewards of Living a Solitary Life
By Affifi Hakimi bin Hussen
One of solitude paradoxes –that challenges the mind of every man-is how a loner’s perspective remains persistent over time. While May Sarton’s “The Reward of Living a Solitary Life” discusses the virtues of being in the state of solitude, it also provides an in-depth view of what and how the person thinks while being alone. Consider the following : how does one experiences the vicissitude of loneliness? Does not one afflicted from solitude in any way? What kind of virtues can be derived from solitude? And most importantly, does not one feels the mundane sorrow of being alone? I assumed that what Sarton is trying to do is to provide a summary of the mind of a loner. Being alone – according to him – provides a quintessence perception of an experience. In some way, I am very much agree to what he pontificates. Tasting a glass of wine ,alone, will highlight the congenital essence that every sommelier is trying to find-consider solitude as the art of winery. Though it is needed to emphasize, however, that a second view must be taken into account shortly after the one sided perspective-that is if one ever wants to achieve mutual judgment of the idea in hand. Our sole understanding of an experience gives us our version of the truth. Note that each understanding of a man may be a valid version of the truth in their own way. Of which if each version consolidated, the purest form can be experienced. From what Sarton wrote, it is clear that he overlooked the concept aforementioned. Thus our view of an idea will deem to be bias. And quoting back Sarton, “solitude is the salt of personhood. It brings out the authentic flavor of every experience.”, we come to a conclusion that an experience can’t never be perceived to its unadulterated form without the second perspective. Later Sarton goes on elucidate how solitude allows us to embrace our inner identity. According to him, while being without a companion
By Affifi Hakimi bin Hussen
One of solitude paradoxes –that challenges the mind of every man-is how a loner’s perspective remains persistent over time. While May Sarton’s “The Reward of Living a Solitary Life” discusses the virtues of being in the state of solitude, it also provides an in-depth view of what and how the person thinks while being alone. Consider the following : how does one experiences the vicissitude of loneliness? Does not one afflicted from solitude in any way? What kind of virtues can be derived from solitude? And most importantly, does not one feels the mundane sorrow of being alone? I assumed that what Sarton is trying to do is to provide a summary of the mind of a loner. Being alone – according to him – provides a quintessence perception of an experience. In some way, I am very much agree to what he pontificates. Tasting a glass of wine ,alone, will highlight the congenital essence that every sommelier is trying to find-consider solitude as the art of winery. Though it is needed to emphasize, however, that a second view must be taken into account shortly after the one sided perspective-that is if one ever wants to achieve mutual judgment of the idea in hand. Our sole understanding of an experience gives us our version of the truth. Note that each understanding of a man may be a valid version of the truth in their own way. Of which if each version consolidated, the purest form can be experienced. From what Sarton wrote, it is clear that he overlooked the concept aforementioned. Thus our view of an idea will deem to be bias. And quoting back Sarton, “solitude is the salt of personhood. It brings out the authentic flavor of every experience.”, we come to a conclusion that an experience can’t never be perceived to its unadulterated form without the second perspective. Later Sarton goes on elucidate how solitude allows us to embrace our inner identity. According to him, while being without a companion