Alone But Never Lonely: What We Can Learn From Hermits

From Yoda to Henry David Thoreau, hermits have something to teach us about loneliness. For centuries, in religious and in secular life, there are people who chose to remove themselves from society. It could be for long periods of time. Karen Fredette entered a monastery after high school and then to a cabin by herself for six years. Henry David Thoreau lived for two years, two months and two days in the woods. If you are a hermit, being alone is an option to consider when the world around you doesn’t feel quite right, when there’s something that troubles you. Solitude can, for some of us, be a better companion than company. Hermits have led the way and they want to share what they’ve learned.Guests: Professor Michael Vargas, History Department, SUNY, New PaltzPaul and Karen Fradette, Ravens Bread Ministries Jeffrey S Cramer, Curator of Collections at the Walden Woods Project's Thoreau Institute LibraryIf you liked this episode, please subscribe and follow us wherever you get your pods or at https://apostrophepodcasts.ca/alonetogether Be social with us at @apostrophepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

A life of solitude was imposed on millions of us during the pandemic due to the coronavirus. Being alone is a life chosen deliberately by some; others are just alone, not by choice. We can end up unexpectedly alone and for many, the twists and turns of life, brought us to where we are. Experts and researchers around the world share their insights about what we know about loneliness, we find meaning of it from songs, art, books, films, history and pop culture. We isolate the lessons of loneliness from people like you and people like me who have unique stories to tell and to share. Everyone feels lonely at times. But let’s begin to explore why. My name is Peg Fong, I’m a journalist and an educator who has been fascinated by what loneliness means. We’re not here to solve loneliness. But to add one voice to another so that we are alone together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.