The moment we hear someone living alone, a feeling of sympathy comes. Our mind feels pity for her/him being alone and missing on life. It is not the case, is my case.

Traditionally we lived in extended families, so the concept of living by ourselves was unheard. I don’t recall anyone in our family who lived alone irrespective of the situations. Infact in Indian families you can never be alone. Someone will come to your rescue to lift your spirits.

Here I am the very first in our family, living all by myself in Bangalore. Leaving behind home, family, two teenagers and lots more. As they say, ‘it takes a village to raise a child. I feel it takes a strong family support, to be able to manage alone.

During the past 11 months or so, I may miss many things on daily basis, but I gain enormously too. Top learnings are.

1. In loneliness I gain Solitude. Discovering to enjoy my own company is helping me to be more aware, creative, productive, and calm. It is teaching me to disconnect and connect quickly and draw a line with my work, family time and space. Prioritizing on my health and exploring the spiritual side of life. Learning to cherish each moment and being happy. Gaining a new level of empathy to relate with many things and people around.

2. In Solitude I gain Love. Love means being you. Thats why when in relationship we say, ‘I love you’ meaning I love being with you. I am finding a new joy in love. Love with life. Love with work. Love with karma. Love with friends. Love with silence. Love with home. Love with family. Love with being me. I enjoy the ebbs and flows of life more now. I know what is there today may not be there tomorrow, so learnings to extract more from each moment. This love is teaching me to be grateful for small things and feel blessed for the life I have.

3. In love I gain clarity. In the calmness of love I am gaining clarity of new level on what I want. Time on hand is helping me connect with inner self. This inner self connect brings clarity. Clarity helps me manifest my short- and long-term goals. It’s like, sometimes by doing we realize what we don’t want to do. Similarly, by being in solitude I am learning so much about what I aspire to do personally and professionally. What we want as a family. Where we want to retire. What will our old age nest be like. What is my purpose. Where I want to steer life. So, on.

4. In clarity I gain transformation. It is important to use clarity and transform ourselves. As time spent in any form in solitude is a good teacher. It helps in connecting with our inner self. Once we strengthen our body, mind, health, spirit, many storms of life can be faced.

There are many things I discover daily to grow. If you are given a chance to live in solitude, go for it. I am super excited as my elder son goes to university this year to embark a new life all by himself. I am eager to see him transform and us to exchange notes.