On Walking Alone
The hardest walk — is walking alone. But it’s also the walk that makes you the strongest. The bravest. The most daring at times.
It made me strong.
For in walking alone — I found myself. I learned to love and respect myself. I learned about my inclinations, talents, passion, unique self expression and mostly about self loving.
I found my own light in the darkest places within me.
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Many people assume that walking alone means loneliness. A kind of irreparable failure. “A loser” as they say in America.
But far from, I think.
My favourite German philosopher on love, Eric Fromm, said: the ability to be alone is actually the condition for the ability for love.
It takes courage to love and be loving. Courage to love oneself and others.
It takes courage to be alone, to learn about oneself: to be the one that seeks love and to be loved. It takes courage to understand oneself, and others. It takes courage, time and practice to be patient, loving and kind. To oneself, and others.
Moreover, it takes courage to witness a lack of love in the world and in other people — and still have a ‘’joie en vivre” or a renewed sense of joy for life and for living.
Without a doubt, it takes courage to love and be loved.
It takes courage to love people who don’t love you back. People who ostracise, blame, criticise and devalue you for their own failings and unhealed wounds…
And yet you love them back.
Unconditionally.
And most graciously.
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By Radhika Mia
