God’s Dictionary: Alone

By on July 9, 2009 in Relationships

Alone 

al- = without

+

-onus = burden 

      This word has a surprising etymology given the ways it is used ordinarily which are, of course, pejorative. Someone wise once wrote, “Loneliness is solitude made wrong.” When a client of mine booked a ticket for a week’s holiday in Paris, she was asked, “Are you going alone?” The tones she heard were a mixture of horror and fear— even pity. You can hear the subtext, “A holiday? Alone?” Why not?   

      One of the real meanings of alone is without burden, fancy-free, lacking cares. A rare pleasure! What a delight to go off to Paris for a week with no plan but to enjoy oneself! Indeed, all that’s required to live a joyous and meaningful life is for one—your Self—to show up.   

      The spiritual etymologist adds a deeper meaning here: All + One. Drinking her cappuccino on the Rive Gauche, I know my friend is showing up as her Self, sporting a Mona Lisa smile and thinking right now that she’s not alone or lonely for we are all one. Ask:  How can I allow myself to be without burden today and see what we are all one? 

Infinition: 

      When I am alone, I cast my burdens away lightly and enjoy my solitude.  After all, we are all one. 

reprinted from God’s Dictionary (Tarcher/Putnam 2002)

 

For more divine definitions, visit the blog, God’s Dictionary!

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Dr. Susan Corso is a spiritual author, speaker, and counselor. An omnifaith minister and the author of God’s Dictionary (Tarcher/Putnam 2002) and The Peace Diet, she has had a spiritual counseling practice for more than 25 years. She has been an intuitive since childhood. 
 
Susan’s blogosphere writing may be found at Seeds for Sanctuary, Ode Magazine and The Huffington Post, and Beliefnet. Her website is SusanCorso.com 
 
One of her favorite occupations is writing spiritual fiction. She is the author of The Healing Mysteries of Mex Stone under the pseudonym Shulamith Burton. The audiobook of the first in the series, Oklahoma! Hex, came out in September 2008.
 
Susan is the founder of Sanctuary and ten-year author/publisher of a free e-newsletter, Seeds. As a professor at the accredited College of Divine Metaphysics, she teaches and ordains ministers.
 
Susan has been published in magazines, online magazines and newsletters including Business Ethics, Beliefnet.com, Ode Magazine, Science of Mind, Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, New York House, Q-Spirit, Self, and Winning Ways. She is the author of several tape series. Susan also writes for the theatre: The God Show, I Would Never, Fight or Flight, and PeaceWomen. 
 
For many years, Susan was an organizational consultant and motivational speaker guiding nuclear scientists as well as entrepreneurs into their life purposes. Some of her former clients include Westinghouse Hanford Company, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Gila River Casinos, and the American Nuclear Society, among many others.

Today she functions as Chief Spiritual Officer for corporations. She lives in one-sixth of a Victorian house outside of Boston, with her beloved spouse, director/actress/teacher Sheriden Thomas, and the spirit of her familiar cat, Charles of the Ritz. 
 
Her mission in life is peace. 

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3 Responses to God’s Dictionary: Alone

  1. Maris July 9, 2009 at 5:16 pm #

    I like this analogy. It means much more.

    Let's Get It

  2. Noreen July 10, 2009 at 6:54 am #

    Thanks Susan, great post!

  3. mydomainpvt July 10, 2009 at 6:59 am #

    dear susan,

    LOVED IT!!!! Thanks. :)

    Wish you love, peace and happiness.

    Trisha