Stern Lessons

The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not to tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers—stern and wild ones—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss.

 - Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

I do not consider this un-chosen journey as one where other women dare not tread. 

Shame and despair are part of the deal and nobody needs a passport to those regions. 

If we learn the lessons aright, we gain wisdom. Such as learning the difference between surrendering and dying.

I do not consider solitude a stern wild teacher that has taught me anything amiss. In fact, I find comfort in solitude. 

Every season, I change the things on the shelves in my front window. I just put summer in. 

Notice there is a cat in each picture. They have taught me the difference between solitude and loneliness.