It can be tough to be alone sometimes. The endless stretches of solitude. The deafening silence within the room. I find it welcoming and maddening at the same time. The need for this time where all I have is myself is necessary to my sanity. It is that time where someone should "just be" as I have seen so many times on social media.

Self-care, stillness, quiet reflection…these are the sentiments that I am constantly bombarded with. However, there is another side to this coin: community. There are those who encourage being in the company of others. Find time to be with others, don't spend too much time in the confinement of solitude, your friends need you.

It calls to mind a series of books my son reads entitled: "Who Would Win?" It pits the strong versus the strong. The winner is not revealed until the very end of the book. One finds themselves choosing a side and rooting for their choice.

The pages cannot be turned fast enough. Anticipation rises as the end of the book draws near. Then the revelation comes and…there is no clear-cut victor. When it comes to the battle of solitude versus community who the winner is will vary from person to person or mood to mood, as it is for me.

I am never quite sure which one I will want. Some days I want to be around my friends and family. Other times, I want to be wrapped up in the blanket of quiet against the noise of the realm of my inner circle. And then there are the times when no matter what choice I make, it doesn't feel like the right one. Is this a competition that can truly be won? No matter how many people I could ask this question to, the answer would be different each time. As for me, I'll take a little bit of both.