{"id":45469,"date":"2025-05-16T09:01:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/lcpw\/?p=45469"},"modified":"2025-05-16T09:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:01:19","slug":"joyful-loneliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/lcpw\/2025\/05\/16\/joyful-loneliness\/","title":{"rendered":"Joyful Loneliness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>May 2025 &#8211; <em>By Beth L. Sinkler, Growth and Strategy Director, Maximus<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TURN IT OFF!&nbsp; Like a leaking faucet my mind is in constant drip motion.&nbsp; Even in a state of meditation, I shift effortlessly within a micro second from concentrating on my breathing awareness, inhale (1, 2, 3) \u2026. exhale (1, 2, 3) to \u2013 \u201cIs my dry cleaning pick up this Wednesday or Thursday?\u201d.&nbsp; Sounds silly, however, this dripping trend is a constant battle as I seek to establish a happy, solitary, state-of-mind.&nbsp; That place where I can totally turn off the noise to relax, restore, or reflect.&nbsp; No, not reflect, that would involve too much thought.&nbsp; Let\u2019s just concentrate on a true, mindless, unwind setting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With focus on my brain waves, I realize my mental thoughts run all over the place.&nbsp; From the present moment of writing words to paper, I zip to the future to ponder, \u2018What is for dinner?\u2019.&nbsp; As quick as lightning strikes, my thoughts zoom to the past, \u2018Why didn\u2019t I speak up during that meeting?\u2019. &nbsp;I truly believe I have the super powers of \u2018Flash\u2019.&nbsp; The super hero that gains access to the speed force allowing him to think and move at superhuman speeds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like most superheroes depicted in the comic strips, after saving the world, they are completely exhausted.&nbsp; Collapsing to the ground, receding back to their cave for rest and restoration in order to save the world yet again, on another day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I seek to find a mental break from my own thoughts.&nbsp; I call it a moment of \u2018joyful loneliness,\u2019 also known as restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, I understand that I own the process of self-care.&nbsp; Fact, the pursuit of achievement, will lead to exhaustion and stress.&nbsp; I know that I will find strength through my restoration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, I have identified my loneliness space.&nbsp; For me it is anything with water.&nbsp; Long showers, soaking in a tub, listening to a babbling stream, viewing a breathtaking waterfall.&nbsp; Those seconds when I simply emerge in a pool of water.&nbsp; I experience mental and physical stillness and calm, that kindles my soul feeling peace and pleasure. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third, I prioritized my mental free moment.&nbsp; It is a moment that is all mine, that I will never get back, so I spend it wisely, on nothingness. I don\u2019t find time; I make time for my super power repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It won\u2019t be easy.&nbsp; Nothing worth while is as I embark on this self-empowerment journey.&nbsp; For all my fellow super sheroes, also known as, overachievers, perfectionist, trailblazers, delegators, valedictorians, and bosses, I encourage you to TURN IT Off!&nbsp; Be still, be silent.&nbsp; Let your mind pause.&nbsp; Be inspired to find your moment of \u2018joyful loneliness\u2019.&nbsp;&nbsp; When found, may it soothe you, heal you, and bring you strength.&nbsp; After all, the world will need saving on yet another day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>May 2025 &#8211; By Beth L. Sinkler, Growth and Strategy Director, Maximus TURN IT OFF!&nbsp; Like a leaking faucet my mind is in constant drip motion.&nbsp; Even in a state of meditation, I shift effortlessly within a micro second from concentrating on my breathing awareness, inhale (1, 2, 3) \u2026. exhale (1, 2, 3) to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5357,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"umw_cb_additional_links":[[]],"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_advisory_expires_time":"","_advisory_meta_include":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-45469","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized","7":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Joyful Loneliness - Leadership Colloquium at UMW<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/lcpw\/2025\/05\/16\/joyful-loneliness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Joyful Loneliness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"May 2025 &#8211; By Beth L. 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