I’ve never found being alone an issue:
My constant companion.
For me alone is normal,
I am the second child of four
I am different,
Connecting doesn’t come easy.
Even in marriage surrounded by children
Loneliness was an issue.
You can be alone in a house full of people.
My days are spent by myself
As I don’t work, every day is alone time.
I like aspects of that
There’s no one to please but me
I can read, write, play music, listen to it.
I like the idea of waking each morning
Looking out my window to see the day break
Should I stay in bed, should I walk?
Maybe I will dig in my garden
Maybe I will mow the lawns
I have choices.
I like when family have been around
To sit back and rejoice in the silence they leave behind.
Then it’s my time again
So often a soothing thought.
Some days I need to get outside
Grab the shovel, the gardening gloves
My kneeling cushion, play in the dirt
Turn it over, see the unearthed richness
Imagine what might grow
Hoping each plant I sow will bear good fruit.
That is not to say I do not crave more
A companion, a lover, a friend
Someone who will tolerate my foibles
Laugh at my jokes, enjoy my company.
Not everything is as you want it
I’ve tried relationship, failed each time
Maybe my lot in life is to be just me.
I have a house that’s mine
Children whose company I enjoy
Grandchildren to watch grow
And a wealth of stories from a life
Spent mostly alone, but substantial in experience.
A life of care
Nurture, learning and love.
If tomorrow my time was to end
I think I would be to content.
There’s always more to see,
Places to go, friends to meet.
I have discovered in recent times
A whole new world
Waiting to be explored.
I know I don’t have to be alone
But it has given me a sense of self.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/writing-prompt-91-alone-time-january-25-2015/
Morpethroad 
I like that you have written about your life and being alone doesn’t have to mean lonely. Perhaps there are some of us that are meant to run this journey solo. As long as you have good family and friends for support and company when required and the odd fairie to talk to in your garden 😉 all is well.
Thank you Jenny and where would I be without the fairies.
A little lost perhaps 😊
I think being happy in your own company truly happy as you seem to be a rare and beautiful thing. I veer between being a loner and happy with that and very sociable but i like to come back to my space x. Wonderful poem
Thank you Justine, lovely to see you drop by.
a pleasure as always x
Tried a different take.
I have read your post will comment on that blog. Thanks for reading mine.
I have to push myself to get out a bit as I do enjoy a lot of solitary activities. I can get quite ummm eccentric when I keep to myself too much but I definitely require alone time perhaps more than most
Thank you Yves. You? Eccentric? But I understand the point you are making.
I like how you have expressed the true differences between being alone and loneliness. I can empathise with so much of this, it’s a lovely piece.
Thank you so much Aileen for stopping by I appreciate your comment.
Lovely piece, Michael. Alone is a comfort zone I hope to overcome one day. It has its perks for sure. But maybe all the rest is just a fantasy anyway. 🙂
Thanks Mandy, yes I think there is a lot of fantasy involved and in some ways it a form of denial. I like the little photo as well, good to see a nice face to your blog.
Beauiful. Your last line in particular resonates with me. I enjoy my own times of solitude, those spent in the garden or on a walk are often the most replenishing. I do need people too, and get them from work, which is completely about connecting with people – a source of my quandaries! I enjoy the balance of working in the city and living in the country. One of my favourite times is when I step off the bus in the dark to look up at a star filled sky; so many more than in the light polluted city. At the moment, I can even see Orion’s bow, and all the stars between him and the Pleides.
Thank you so much for your excellent comment. I live in the country and I can relate to what you say about the heavens. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gardening is a great way to spend alone time … but with Mother Nature there, it’s almost not being alone 🙂
This is so true Heather. Maybe that’s why I do enjoy working in the garden.
That’s really beautiful – so honest, clear and humble. I love how you relish the silence after the family leaves while enjoying the time they are with you. I see life in a similar way.
Thank you Suzanne glad you could connect.
As Heather suggested you are never really alone in a garden. Even the earth is alive.
As others have mentioned, I move between the space of alone and loneliness.
You have described a wonderful sense of the freedom alone time can give.
And a contentment and strength in alone time. A very good virtue to have.
Thank you phylor, I appreciate your comment. There are some virtues to being alone.
Beautiful writing. I hope you find the right balance of alone vs company in your future.
Thank you so much Ruth. I hope so too.
Gardening keep me sane, when all the empty spaces (or the too full ones) get to me.