A column about history, culture, policy, and things in between.
What could a contemporary rock band, a first century Roman Statesman, and a mythical superhero all have in common?
The answer lies in a word that is seldom used and even more seldom achieved - SOLITUDE.
First I’ll address REM. In their smash hit It’s the End of the World as We Know It, there is a haunting background refrain sung simultaneously to the chorus, and the words that echo in that refrain are “can I have some time alone”?
Marcus Cicero was a Roman pro-Consul and statesman of epic proportions. His writing, philosophy and dazzling orations before the Roman Senate have influenced Western Civilization for twenty centuries, and were foundational to the work done by America’s Founding Fathers. Today the revisionist history taught on most University campuses knows little of Cicero and his titanic achievements, but that is the subject of another column! Although his life was spent largely in the public arena, Cicero once proclaimed, “I am least alone when all alone”.
Superman was a comic book figure from the 1950’s, and he was brought to life on the big screen in the 1978 Richard Donner film, which featured Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, and Gene Hackman. In the movie, Superman’s father Jor-El bequeathed to his son what he called his “fortress of solitude”, a cathedral of crystal and ice to which the superhero could retreat to resolve inner conflicts and crisis. It was there that Superman journeyed to recoup and reflect, and to regain his lost powers, only after this emerging to do battle against the evil Lex Luthor.
The notion that solitude is valuable is something on which I think there would be widespread agreement. I suspect we would just as readily agree to the fact that we have precious little of it in our lives. In fact, I find it no exaggeration to say that if solitude were an animal, it would be on the endangered species list.
What is it about solitude that is so valuable? Much of its value is determined by its sheer scarcity, yet another confirmation of the law of supply and demand. It is also valuable because in my view, it is the indispensable tool to bringing about the pattern of behaviors and disciplines we want our lives to have. I know I can’t achieve any measurable progress in the areas I need to work on if I just let the rush of daily activities and responsibilities dominate my schedule. I suspect few of us can.
If we agree that it is of value then the next obvious question becomes “how do I get more of it”? The only way I know how to do it is to make it enough of a priority in my week to carve some time out for it. Such “carving” means different things and takes different shapes for all of us. I am an early riser, and for me it has lately meant resisting the pull of my morning ESPN addiction to spend some time reading from the book of Proverbs. Whatever your view of the Bible or Christianity, the simple and foundational wisdom contained in this book is hard to dispute; and I find it to be both a nice start to and anchor for my day.
I think we can all take a lesson from REM, Cicero, and Superman. They all recognized the importance of solitude,
And who amongst us at times does not want to be a rock star, a statesman, or a little more like Superman?
