Solitude has a long history and has been documented in stories, art and in real life for centuries. Perhaps our interest is not that surprising given that we spend one third of our waking life alone. 

Yet the way we view solitude today is often tied to negative narratives and preconceptions that perceive anything other than human connection as something to avoid. But solitude and loneliness, as I have been exploring, are not the same thing and according to my guest this week, the two have become confused. So how can we look at alone time differently and invest in it as something that is integral to our happiness, wellbeing and meaningful relationships?

My guest this week for Part Two of my exploration into solitude is Heather Hansen, who along with her coauthors have spent several years researching what time alone means to different people around the world. Their book, ‘Solitude, The Science and Power of Being Alone’,  presents time alone as a place of choice where we can best connect with what really matters to us - our values, interests and our emotions. 

I hope you enjoyed this episode of Flip It, and if you did I would be hugely grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe. It really will help me to discover and share more stories and voices that deserve to be heard. 

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