I’ve been referring to myself as a Frog Hermit for the past 18 months or so until someone brought up a valid point – are you a hermit or a recluse? Good question. Let’s start with the definition of a recluse: “a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people” whereas a hermit is “a person living in solitude as a religious discipline”. For all intents and purposes, I began as a recluse, and am definitely still one. Check. Over the past months of living the solitary life however, I began to feel as though I was led here for to find the spiritual discipline but I don’t think I’ve quite achieved that yet. The silent and contemplative life has led me down very interesting exploratory paths though, which is how I began learning more about Reiki and took the first tentative steps in Tai Chi.
As I’ve written in the past, this lifestyle is not for anyone because the silence, isolation and solitude requires much more discipline than I ever anticipated, not to mention self-control and will-power. You have to really desire to be recluse in order to accept the consequences of giving up a lot of “commodities”. For me it meant surrendering everything that was familiar, comforting, and comfortable that we all take for granted and can run to the mall or corner store to grab. Gone is the need to call food deliveries just because I don’t feel like cooking, or can’t ask someone else to cook for me that day. Sure, I miss being able to pop out for a stroll for window shopping, or call a friend to meet at a cafe, but none of it is not essential for my sanity nor survival. On the contrary, the thought of having to go down into town or the city drives makes me nervous now, and when I am in town for whatever reason, I am desperate to get back home to the mountain.
The biggest revelation that I was truly a 100% recluse was when I lost interest in shopping for clothes. If I find something online by accident, I will stop, appreciate and maybe even go as far as place it in my shopping cart. But then the inevitable happens and I ask myself “why do I need that? Where am I going? When would I even wear it?” I moved to Portugal with only three suitcases and promised myself that from here on out I would only ever move again with the same three suitcases. At my age, it is imperative to reduce and declutter anyway, and since the only beings I talk to on a daily basis are cats, I have absolutely not need for fashion statements, well, unless they are the functional type.
I sat and thought about it the other day and told my cat “Who cares if my wardrobe is outdated?” I’ve always bought timeless classics that can be dressed up or down accordingly, so I’m good with whatever is currently taking up space in my closet. As a dear friend always reminded me, your essence and presence are THE most valuable accessories, far more important than any shoes or bags. You can be dressed in designer clothes and still be completely shallow and uninteresting (but social media worthy) or be the simple bohemian who has depth and wisdom to offer. The bottom line is, I have nowhere to go, nor do I harbour a desire to go anywhere unless it is to visit my daughter, so what could I possibly need more clothes and high heels for?
Quite frankly, I’d rather splurge on a comfortable arm chair or kitchen gadgets that will enhance my homesteading, perhaps invest in my writing and communication “tools”, but other than that, I love being a recluse! Mind you, just because clothes are not my priority in life doesn’t mean that I don’t indulge in self-care and pampering anymore, but even that doesn’t have to come out of an expensive cosmetic shop or exorbitant spa. Nope, there is a plethora of homemade recipes for natural body scrubs, face scrubs, and the likes. Salons and spas charge a fortune for rejuvenation facials but once a week, I whip up a small batch of facial scrub made from brown sugar, honey and olive oil and it works wonders. As for body scrubs, I make my own as well from rock salt and olive oil. The first time I did so I regretted all the years of spending on branded scrubs when I could’ve just made it at home. That is the evil of marketing for you.
If ever there was a certification for each of the milestones for becoming a recluse I think I am well on my way to being a recluse master by now! I totally understand the attraction of living in a convent and relinquishing worldly belongings. I used to wine and dine in the fancy hotels and restaurants around the globe, but that all seems like a lifetime ago. I may not be wealthy by any economic definition, but I live an abundant life and have never felt lighter and healthier. I’ve always wondered why so many nuns always looked decades younger than their chronological age and possessed flawless skin despite the lack of cosmetics, but now I understand that the youthful appearance comes from a rejuvenation from within and a rejection of urban toxicity in all its forms.
FrogDiva Thoughts 