The best thinking has been done in solitude.
The worst has been done in turmoil.- Thomas A. Edison -
When I was a kid, Batman was my hero. He was an ordinary man – no superpowers. He was simply strong, agile, innovative and fearless. He was a loyal friend and an idealistic crusader. Whenever he had problems, he would retreat into The Batcave. Here he would in his solitude ... find peace, see things for what they were and find the wisdom to hurdle the obstacles that lay before him. Here he would come to his “eureka” moments ... and find the strength to carry on. The Batcave was his real source of power ...
In my adult life, I have always had a “batcave” .
A place where solitude allows me the space to find my bearings ...
A spot that allows me a meditative cleansing process ...
A location all my own ...
A “sanity corner”.
My “batcave” is a concept of solitude, rather than a specific place.
It has over the years been a shaded portion under a tree, a place by the sea, a section of a library, a favorite table in a coffeeshop, a specific bench in a mall, an al fresco restaurant, a wine cellar, a hotel room, a sofa in my own house, a friends apartment ... and lately, at the foot of my fathers grave. Anywhere that allows my mind to be alone ... to recharge, to pause, to reboot.
Quite often, the best way to see better is to step away. From the distance created by solitude comes the vision that sees through the clouds of life. Mastering the state of being alone without being lonely leads to a self awareness that can give one a sense of perspective in a world that is spinning ever so rapidly around us.
I find in these quiet “alone” moments a peacefulness that allows me a chance to renew myself ... to foster thinking and creativity ... to appreciate nature, people and life itself.
So whenever life starts to overwhelm me ...
I disappear into a state of inner richness that allows me to contemplate on whatever it is that lies ahead .
Do not be afraid of the darkness ... for therein begins the light.
... “to the Batcave ... there’s not a moment to lose” ...
I am reposting this piece while in the shadow of fear and sadness ...
Searching for the rainbow that has eluded me as I stand drenched in the storm of life.
Bear with me ...
This too will pass
-daguldol-
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44 comments:
why fear and darkness, ernie? what's up? what is this that too will pass?
this is a beautiful post that i can very well relate to. i have my own batcave...a sanctuary within myself where i retreat when i need to recharge my batteries. savor your solitude.
Alice,
Great to have you on board. It has been such a long time ...
Nothing to worry.
Like everyone else, I go through my ups and downs. It's just a down moment ...
Tomorrow is another day.
dagul
luna,
Yes -solitude can be so very refreshing sometimes.
I should be back to my quirky self soon ...
You've been travelling a lot. I would love to someday see your blog destinations.It's funny -I have been to so many places in the world - but my own country, I have hardly seen ...
dagul
I hope you will be back from your batcave soon... wish you a lot of strenght...take care !!!
I retreated months ago... and I am still in total darkness... :-(
...pats Dagul on the back. Ay nadagukan! joke!
sabi nga sa likod ng ulap nandun ang araw.... ;-)
sidney,
Thanks
I will be in and out - I am sure ...
Life these days is really tough
The world has gotten hard, jaded and often vicious ...
But there is light that unfortunately is only seen in the dark. Follow the light ...
Life is waiting at the other side.
Hold on buddy ...
dagul
mirage2g,
Araaaaay
Ang sakit nung dagok ...
Thanks for the pat on the back.
I needed that .
dagul
Hi Ninong Ernie,
I continue to pray for your safety, peace of mind and happiness. Always remember even in your solitude you are not totally alone, because OUR GOOD LORD is there beside you and is just waiting for you to surrender everything to HIM. Miss you NINONG!!! Ingat po lagi. We are just always here for you po
Tess,
Thank you so much
My strength has been in God, in family - and in friends like you ...
You , who have sailed these rough seas with me ... always ready with a smile, a pat on the back or a helping hand.
I have been very lucky and blesssed to have you ...
dagul
sending you positive thoughts and vibes. hang in there!
rita,
Thanks buddy
Not to worry ...
It's just a phase - perhaps even just a mood
I just need a goodnight's sleep - and a stiff martini
The weekend is here.
I will be fine ...
dagul
martini...???? you just said the magic word. i'm with you on that! now, i know you'll be alright. i can already see the light at the end of tunnel for you, bud! ;)
rita,
Yup - hahaha
A stiff martini and more ...
Had a couple - then basically slept through the weekend ...
Am feeling better.
Will be posting soon - possibly even tonight
dagul
This too shall pass, Dagul. Peace and srength to you. God Bless.
Heidi
heidi,
Thank you so much for your concern.
The dark clouds are slowly floating away ...
I should be back really soon.
dagul
I hope today is a brighter day. I go through the same phase very often, I don't regret it, for me it's a cleansing process.
Yes...please come back...
drink a good bottle of red one...then go for some really good meal... and come out of your Batcave...
I am out now... and I even didn't need a bottle of wine to do so... ;-)
Gracie and Sydney,
Will be back really soon.
My life has ben rebooted ...
I am smiling again
dagul
You will be alright. Be well. :-)
Life is short, isn't it... so you shouldn't spend too much time in your Batcave...
There is so much food, wine and beautiful women waiting for you outside your cave! ;-)
hope to see you soon, buddy! recharge those batteries. we all miss ya.
My friends and I are wondering when you are coming out of your batcave.
We've been talking about going out and need ideas for a new place to try. Plus, we miss the smiles your blog entries bring to our faces. :-)
Are you out of your batcave yet? We were hoping that you hooked up with Anthony Bourdain.
What do you think of taking your mother out for dinner tonight? And then come back and post one of your fun restaurant reviews. ;-)
We're glad you have a batcave but we think you may be staying there too long. Life is short. And life is hard ... but we are still blessed with much. Focus on the many blessings you have. And lift your eyes. There, you will find strength.
So did you take your mother out for dinner on her birthday?
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. ~Abraham Lincoln
Don't you think it's time to get out of the batcave and write? We're still trying to figure out what restaurant to try next. Miss ya.
Hey Dagul, we miss you! Come on out and play! Heidi
Just to cheer you up, here's a joke.
One day a Pastor, a Vicar and an Atheist go on a fishing trip together. They are in the boat and the Pastor says," Oh! No! I left the paddles on shore!" So he proceeds to get out of the boat and walk on the water to the shore to get them. Once he had gotten back into the boat the Vicar says," Oh! No! I left the bait on shore too!" And like the Pastor the Vicar exits the boat and walks on the water to get the bait. When the Vicar climbs back into the boat the atheist yells," Well if you guys can do it so can I!!!" and proceeds to clim out of the boat, but he falls into the water. At this piont the Pastor says," Do you think we should have told him where the rocks are?"
Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars. ~Henry Van Dyke
Think of all the things you have been blessed with, including friends who won't tire of checking up on you until you come out of your batcave. Tired of me leaving comments yet? :o)
Hi Dagul, we miss you! Please come out of the batcave soon!
Heidi
Praying that God will grant you to be brave, and strong, and true; and to fill the world with love (and laughter).
Mr. C.
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on. ~Robert Frost
... and hopefully, your blog writing will go on as well -- soon.
Waiting patiently.
Are you still in the "shadow of fear and sadness..."? Or have you found the rainbow and just haven't had time to update your blog. Miss ya.
What are you doing on Saturday?
Thinking of you on your second month anniversary ... of being in the batcave. :(
I was hoping to wake up and see that you are out of the batcave. No luck today. Will try sometime soon.
This is a nice post you have here. I like what you wrote about being alone but not lonely. We all need to retreat to our own batcave sometimes. It gives us a better perspective of things.
Glad to know that you are at least checking your comments. I am still here.
Hoping that as you said on Oct. 5, you are ... ".. feeling better. Will be posting soon - possibly even tonight". Many miss you, your insights, and humour.
earth to dagul! still there? somewhere? i hope all is well, buddy. it's been awhile. for what it's worth... wishing you and yours a FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS!!!
take it easy.
Hope all is well with you, Dagul. Have a Merry Christmas and I wish you the best for the new year. Come back to us soon!
Heidi
Hope your New Year's resolutions include getting back to blogging. May you be encouraged by the fact that many miss you. And may you continue to find strength in the God who loves you and who is in control of everything -- even during times when we wonder where He is in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Happy New Year. Still here. Watching ... Waiting ...
Just a reminder -- it's already January. Need inspiration, I know. But just like God's many blessings, you can actually find one or more of them in whatever situation you are in. I'm sure if you really wanted, you will find inspiration somehow, somewhere in that one person, that one book, that one creative idea, that one passion.
Still here... know that you are loved.
hi sir.
i had linked your post on my facebook.your post is something i believe many of us can relate to.
i personally don't know you, but yes, matthew is right...
you are loved.
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