One of my rituals for each new year is to choose a word to influence me for the year. My word for 2011 is EXPERIMENT. To support my EXPERIMENTAL focus, I commit to post the results of a new experiment each Sunday of this year.
This week’s experiment had less to do with doing or not doing something than simply paying attention.
My lifetime best friend is visiting for the week. So I simply paid attention to how it felt to share my home with another human.
If you’ve never lived alone, this experiment may seem like no big deal. I’ve spent the vast majority of my adult life living alone. So sharing my home ~ even with someone I dearly love, for more than a few days is always, well, worthy of my attention :).
Here’s what I noticed:
- I’m set in my ways.
- I’m grouchy when someone/anyone wakes me up.
- I really am cool with where ever anyone wants to put something away in my kitchen.
- I SO enjoy cooking for other people.
- I don’t just LIKE quiet – I require it.
- I feel no ownership about how clean/neat other people keep their bedrooms.
- I AM as much of a hermit as I say.
- And not too many things make my life feel better than starting the day to the smell of fresh coffee.
Where are you with the whole living alone adventure?
Lisa’s Cheap Therapy blog 
I have lived alone for most of the past nine months, except for my kids are home from college. I VERY quickly adjusted to living alone and have learned that I crave quiet time. I’ve also learned I sleep better when no one is in the house (that is unless the dogs start barking at 2AM).
I enjoy when my kids are home or folks come to visit for a few days, but I enjoy my quiet time and “house alone” time too!
One of the few regrets I have about life choices is that I’ve NEVER lived alone. I went from home to college to living with a guy to marrying him. And we’re still married and living together. I, too, require alone time. It’s hard to come by since my husband retired a couple of years ago. We are working it out…slowly. Anyone got a place where I can run away? (Beach view preferred.)
I have never lived alone either. I graduated high school, got a job with the government, so I went to live with my sister and was married the following year. We’ve been married 46 yrs, although I love my hubby:) I need my alone time. It, also, seems that I accomplish more when I am alone.
I think most of us require alone time, but get too busy to recognize the need to do what I call “hit the reset button” with quiet time. I must get a look about me because my hubby says things like “why don’t I take the boys and let you have some down time.” I hope I don’t look or act too gruff for him to suggest this gift of quiet! Lisa, your weekly posts are so fun! I still would love to try to do tea of coffee one day!