單身和獨處的時候可以如何享受生活？
With my husband and kids away for the weekend, I had three whole days to myself. As a busy wife and mother, time like that is like finding $20 in an old purse… but even better. I usually get some take out and hunker down to binge watch the latest series I have missed. But there are times when I want to experience something. This time it was the symphony performing Mozart’s Requiem Mass. Choral church music isn’t everyone’s “thing,” but I enjoy hearing it. I booked a ticket for one and waited excitedly for the big night to arrive.
丈夫帶着孩子們去別的地方過週末，我有三天獨處的時間。對於一個忙碌的妻子和母親來說，這種感覺簡直比在舊錢包裏翻出20美元的感覺還要好! 我通常都會叫個外賣，追個錯過了幾集的新劇。也有過幾次我嘗試做了一些其他的事情，連續兩個小時聽莫扎特的《安魂曲》。雖然不是每個人都喜歡教堂合唱樂，但我覺得還不錯，我也會自己定個演出票，然後滿心歡喜的等待夜幕降臨前去觀演。
After the performance, I heard the people behind me make a snarky comment about me being alone. I looked at them and smiled. They weren’t in on my little secret that I purposely volunteered to arrive at the performance by myself. I was able to listen to almost two hours of Mozart music with no interruption, and I was able to experience some of the most beautiful music in the world just for me.
表演結束後，有時候我會聽見身後的人小聲議論我一個人看演出。我會看看他們然後笑笑，這是我的小祕密，就是有意要一個人去看錶演。我能夠靜靜的欣賞莫扎特的音樂兩個小時不被打擾，只有我和音樂兩個人的世界。
單身和獨處的時候可以如何享受生活？
This isn’t the first time that I boldly went somewhere alone. I love going to art museums by myself. I saw Michelangelo’s David when I was traveling to Florence for a weekend on my own. One of the most beautiful experiences of my life was walking into the hall where David is. I gasped in awe at the beauty before me. I had the time alone to savor the entire experience.
一個人的經歷不止看演出。我還喜歡一個人去藝術博物館。在一次週末我一個人飛去佛羅倫薩看大衛的畫展。那是我人生中最美妙的時刻之一，綻放異彩，美輪美奐，讓人沉醉的畫作就這樣呈現在我的面前。我獨處的時候常常會細細回憶起整個旅行經歷。
Another experience alone was listening to Fado music alone in a restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal. I wore a beautiful red dress and sat proudly at a table by myself, listening to some of the most haunting melodies I have ever heard.
還有一次在葡萄牙，里斯本的一間餐廳欣賞Fado 音樂。我身着一件漂亮的紅裙，一個人高傲的坐着，聽着從未聽過的撩人心醉的旋律。
Would the experience have been the same if I were chatting with my girlfriends or my husband? Those experiences shared with another likely would not have had the same meaning to me. Maybe not everyone can get to a symphony or see David up close this weekend. That’s okay. Here are my suggestions for creating some alone time for you:
這些經歷可以媲美你和閨蜜或是丈夫的聊天麼？對於我來說，應該是不能劃等號的。也許這個週末你也想聽一場交響樂或是去看大衛的畫展，沒問題，在此之前分享到我幾個獨處的小建議供參考：
1) Download a piece of music you’ve always wanted to hear in concert. Find a place where you can listen to it by yourself, and just allow yourself to feel it. What emotions does it stir within you? What does the music make you long for?
下
載你想去聽的音樂會中的一個音樂片段，找一個地方你一個人欣賞。試想你會感覺的一種怎樣情緒，什麼樣的音樂是讓你夢寐以求去欣賞的？
2) Try the class you’ve always wanted to try. Have you always wondered what they do in a Kundalini yoga class? Find one and go! You can also find wine tasting classes, cooking classes, and there’s even a cheese pairing class in our neighborhood. Look around and take a class that opens a door to a new dimension of you.
上一門你早就躍躍欲試的課程，你是想上昆達里尼瑜伽課程，那就找一個然後去上，或是品酒課，烹飪課，甚至還有，奶酪搭配課。在你家附近找找，然後上一門，爲你自己開啓一片新天地。
3) Take some time to spend alone in nature… and leave your headphones at home. Time amongst the trees, water, and birds will give you an opportunity to hear your own thoughts. Hear the sounds of nature, feel the breeze, and just be open to any thoughts that drift into your mind.
感受大自然，放下你的耳機。綠樹、流水、鳥鳴，是時候迴歸自我。耳畔是自然的聲音，微風拂面，打開心扉，自由暢想。
It is okay to be alone sometimes. We crave that time so that we can be of better service to those who rely on us. The next time you have 30 minutes, a day or even a weekend to yourself, plan to carve some of that time out so you can do something for you. Your soul will thank you.
獨處一段時間沒有壞處，我們擠出時間這樣做是爲了很好的照顧依賴我們的人。在下一次不管是30分鐘，一天或是一個星期，只要有時間獨處，就單純的爲自己高興做點什麼。你的靈魂會向你致謝。
