For those of you unfamiliar with the Superman comics, whenever the Man of Steel felt like he needed to escape from civilization, get away from the noise and distractions, and contemplate in peace, he would fly to a distant tundra far from humanity and become a recluse in his icy Fortress of Solitude. Now, even though it’s a mere trifle for Superman to fly at incredible speed to a secluded hideaway, it’s also completely unnecessary. Sure, it looks cool all drawn up in the comics with its ice crystals piercing into the sky, but it sends the wrong message.
The message to kids – or adults – is: if you want to become introspective and become clear-minded, you must find your own Fortress of Solitude. And we all have them. Sometimes it’s a public place. For Frasier Crane it was Café Nervosa and for the gang on Friends it was Central Perk. Other times it’s a more private place we go to like a favorite park, fishing on a nearby lake, or playing golf. Sometimes it can be a place within our houses like the bedroom or home office. For me, I found real seclusion and peace in what we call the book nook of my daughter’s bedroom. Nestled between her bed, a wall, and a bookshelf, the carpet is covered in multiple miscellaneous blankets for maximum comfort and it’s where my daughter snuggles up to me while I read from her favorite books before bedtime.
And while all of this is great, what do we do when we’re not near a golf course or our favorite park or at home? We don’t have the superpower to fly to those places and even if we could, perhaps the park is filled with people for an event or the golf course is booked for a tournament or your home is being remodeled. The answer is to consider what we do when we’re in our own Fortress of Solitude: we introspect.
Regardless of the geographical location, we relax, breathe slower, and delve into our own thoughts like swimming in a deep lake. We explore inward. We have conversations with ourselves. We shift perspectives and find clarity. So, do we really need to be somewhere specific in order to do this? No! Now, it may take practice to adapt to the environment such as acknowledging the sounds around you then letting them go or getting comfortable with the idea other people are around you. Here’s a quick hint: people are never thinking about you or caring about what you’re doing or how you look as much as you think they are.
So, my invitation to you is to chisel out time in your day – wherever you happen to be – and just practice some mindfulness. Close your eyes, if you like…unless you’re driving. Acknowledge what’s in the environment, then let it go. And remember that your Fortress of Solitude is within you. Your inner voice you conversate with is always there. Unlike Superman’s sanctuary of seclusion, yours is mobile like an aluminum Airstream gliding with you…always. It’s not about the place; it’s about the perspective. And you can tap into yourself whenever and wherever you like.
The message to kids – or adults – is: if you want to become introspective and become clear-minded, you must find your own Fortress of Solitude. And we all have them. Sometimes it’s a public place. For Frasier Crane it was Café Nervosa and for the gang on Friends it was Central Perk. Other times it’s a more private place we go to like a favorite park, fishing on a nearby lake, or playing golf. Sometimes it can be a place within our houses like the bedroom or home office. For me, I found real seclusion and peace in what we call the book nook of my daughter’s bedroom. Nestled between her bed, a wall, and a bookshelf, the carpet is covered in multiple miscellaneous blankets for maximum comfort and it’s where my daughter snuggles up to me while I read from her favorite books before bedtime.
And while all of this is great, what do we do when we’re not near a golf course or our favorite park or at home? We don’t have the superpower to fly to those places and even if we could, perhaps the park is filled with people for an event or the golf course is booked for a tournament or your home is being remodeled. The answer is to consider what we do when we’re in our own Fortress of Solitude: we introspect.
Regardless of the geographical location, we relax, breathe slower, and delve into our own thoughts like swimming in a deep lake. We explore inward. We have conversations with ourselves. We shift perspectives and find clarity. So, do we really need to be somewhere specific in order to do this? No! Now, it may take practice to adapt to the environment such as acknowledging the sounds around you then letting them go or getting comfortable with the idea other people are around you. Here’s a quick hint: people are never thinking about you or caring about what you’re doing or how you look as much as you think they are.
So, my invitation to you is to chisel out time in your day – wherever you happen to be – and just practice some mindfulness. Close your eyes, if you like…unless you’re driving. Acknowledge what’s in the environment, then let it go. And remember that your Fortress of Solitude is within you. Your inner voice you conversate with is always there. Unlike Superman’s sanctuary of seclusion, yours is mobile like an aluminum Airstream gliding with you…always. It’s not about the place; it’s about the perspective. And you can tap into yourself whenever and wherever you like.