“Solitude is very different from a ‘time-out’ from our busy lives. Solitude is the very ground from which community grows. Whenever we pray alone, study, read, write, or simply spend quiet time away from the places where we interact with each other directly, we are potentially opened for a deeper intimacy with each other. “- Henri Nouwen

This introvert loved this quote. Naturally, I need time away from people to be a fully functioning human when I am with those I love. More and more, I have noticed my need for solitude to re-charge before engaging with others. Recently, I have not done a very good job at this type of re-charging. I have been over scheduled with too many activities and have just felt depleted and on edge. This summer has flown by and I have not wanted to miss a moment of it. So for the rest of this summer, there will be more walks, more unscheduled nights open for reading and more early nights so I can be fully awake for my morning quiet times. More open space.

// Shorts found here and another very similar pair found here// This shirt //

^^ at the Pier at Pentwater, Michigan