The Space Between

 I exit often.

Exit from social media, chatting with friends, family or stepping out for a walk

Some people take this personally and consider me asocial. Friends get hurt, family think I’m losing it. 

I exist among my own, but in silence. 

This life I live made me realise the importance of retaining my sanity and slowing down.

I need the silence to hear my voice, to feel my thoughts, listen to my soul, breathe. Silence gives me strength.

The space and distance helps me rest, recover, heal.

Everyone has their own way of doing this, some need more noise, more crowds, more friends, more socialising, some retreat to the hills, beaches, jungles.

I am not weird, I am not anti anything, am just an overworked, worried mom, daughter, person. Who is not able to get away from the people around me, 

We live in a world that is so dependent on external sources for affirmations. 

Sense of entitlement, the ability to connect at an instant. The feeling of loss when the connection is not reciprocated. 

We don’t own the people we love even if we live with them, everyone is entitled to their space

My quiet moments provide me self affirmation. 

I am not running away from my problems, I am dealing with them in my own quiet way, I know you could have helped me if I had come to you with them, but I also know I can deal with them in my own silent way

My friend sent me a message when I needed it most ”Just checking on you, hope you are well, respect that you need your space, but letting you know I am there if you need me” 

These are my soulmates

And I would do the same for them.

And I am rarely out of reach and I do meet and talk in the space between.

I always return to chatting with friends, going out for walks/ runs/ catching up with my favourite folks and plenty of smiles.

It is not wrong to take time for self preservation, it is right to spend time to rest and reset.

"Quiet the mind, heal the source"

-Tiffany Stoffer