About this quote

Solitude can be a choice you make to rest, not a punishment you endure. A good book fills the quiet so you don't have to hurry back into company. Try it as an experiment: set aside an hour each night for reading and notice how you feel. If the quiet stops helping, that’s a clear sign to reach out and get company that actually works for you.

When to use it

• Before finals I told my roommate, "No, I can survive on my own tonight—I've got my textbooks and a thermos," and shut the door to study.
• When the team planned drinks after work I said, "No thanks, I’m fine—I'll catch up tomorrow, I need time to read that report," and headed home with a book.
• At a loud family gathering I slipped into the next room with a novel and said, "No, I’ll be okay here—this is my recharge time," and the quiet made a difference.
• After a breakup a friend offered to come over and I told them, "No, I can survive on my own if I have the right novels to get me through," then spent a weekend reading.