Being 'alone' just means being yourself, with no one else around.
You can be alone in the shower, alone while driving, alone when you're sleeping, and alone in your office at work.
Being 'lonely,' on the other hand, means that you're absent from any emotional connection to the world around you -- it's as if the whole world in which you live is full of strangers.
Some people feel lonely in a crowd, and some people who are completely alone don't feel lonely at all.
One reason that many people avoid opportunities for solitude is that they equate solitude with loneliness.
In fact, it's only possible to enjoy solitude -- time with yourself -- if you're emotionally tied to the social world around you.
To those who see with loving eyes, life is beautiful.
To those who speak with tender voices, life is peaceful.
To those who help with gentle hands, life is full.
And to those who care with compassionate hearts,
life is good beyond all measure..
