The Reality is that rather than living a “jet-set” life, I am actually a bit of a hermit… a “Lone Wolf”, if you will. One of my favorite quotes is by Henry David Thoreau:
I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.
~Henry David Thoreau
I think most people equate solitude with loneliness, when in truth they are very different things! I believe that when someone experiences loneliness just because they are alone, it is because they have not learned to enjoy their own company. This makes me a little sad for them. A person who truly loves themselves and has a rich inner dialogue will never feel lonely!
While I am definitely an introvert, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy socializing, it just needs to be on my terms. I usually prefer to socialize in small groups because I find them less overwhelming, and in my own home where I have access to all the creature comforts that make life with a disability more tolerable.
I like to think this has turned me into a gracious hostess, and although it takes a lot out of me, I truly do enjoy entertaining in my home. I pride myself on keeping a home that makes people comfortable; not so sterile and staged as to make someone feel like they shouldn’t touch anything, but with enough thought to design that it feels warm and welcoming. I want them to think it’s pretty, but still feel like they can kick off their shoes, put their feet on the couch, and make themselves at home! I also like to think that, while I am certainly no professional chef, I am a pretty good homestyle cook, and I love feeding people!