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Doña Keating has a life full of personal, business and civic obligations. This Bremerton resident is a well-respected woman who is active in many things but tries to make time for solitude. “It may sound unbelievable, but at the core I am a loner and introvert,” she said. “The ability to enjoy myself alone is critical to remaining engaged at the level I do.”
Solitude is not a new desire for this entrepreneur, president/CEO of Professional Options, vice president of Keating Consulting Service and owner of Popcorn Chef. Keating enjoys exploring the different benefits on life that solitude has, including to her work and her family. “I’m more conscious when conversation turns trivial. I’m more aware when I’m escaping from myself into meaningless noise. I’m more sensitive to the natural world around me,” she said.
Keating feels meditation, listening to music, writing, reading or just doing nothing are great ways to renew. Usually she is a very verbal person with strong speaking and writing skills, but by experiencing solitude she is able to draw energy from a place within when she is not distracted by having to communicate.
“The challenge is finding this (solitude) while in relationships with family, friends, and colleagues,” she said. She doesn’t want anyone to feel shut out, so Keating explains why solitude is important to her. She hopes to inspire others to explore solitude and silence for themselves.
Solitude has helped Keating realize she doesn’t have to be doing something all the time to create fulfillment. “I appreciate small slices of quiet time that are easy to capture,” she said. “I cherish moments of solitude as precious opportunities to commune with myself, and I begin to understand there is no greater natural world than the natural world of silence.”. |
