Alone or lonely?

I am alone but not lonely. I have heard many people say this and was left wondering how does one distinguish between alone and lonely. Alone is a physical state while lonely is a state of mind. What is solitude then?

When I am alone, I am not exactly alone. My mind is at places that I want to be at, with people I long to be with. I am in the backyard of our old house, playing with my brother, or in the classroom at school, making notes as the teacher writes on the blackboard. I am in a train travelling alone to meet a friend or walking through the narrow path of a jungle. I am with friends or with people who are just fragments of my past. So am I lonely or alone?

There are times when I am surrounded by people but I feel distant from them, as if they are just images floating around me. Physically I am with them, but I do not feel their presence. Am I then, not alone?

I have always loved solitude. It somehow makes me happy and content. It is like finding peace within myself in a chaos filled life. 

I do not know whether I am alone or lonely. But yes, it is scary when you do not see anyone around you when you desperately need someone to speak to. Or someone to just smile reassuringly at you. Or to just hug you. Maybe at times like these, one can truly differentiate between alone and lonely.

Reviews

[SammMG]

"There are times when I am surrounded by people but I feel distant from them, as if they are just images floating around me. Physically I am with them, but I do not feel their presence. Am I then, not alone?"

This line hit home for me in so many different angles. To feel alone is such a powerful feeling, but often at time we can either truly embrace it or fear it. I feel as if that is true way to distinguish it. Depending though on what if we want to feel connected, but not wanting to admit it? The whole idea is something you touched upon so thoroughly through this. Great job of describing the concept of being by one's self. I can honestly say this will be on my mind for a while.

Keep up the good work!