The Gifts of Coronavirus: Feel What You’re Feeling

Hearing that many people were struggling with feelings of fear, isolation, and loneliness, I have been inspired by the corona-crisis to write a book about The Gifts of Solitude. I realised I have something useful to offer, having spent up to five months completely alone at sea, without seeing another human being, or even dry land, when I was rowing solo across oceans. The solitude, and the fear, were very real. I had to find coping strategies, and eventually came to appreciate solitude as a pathway to emotional maturity and self-reliance.

So I have set myself the challenging but, I think, do-able task of writing a short book on the subject, aiming to publish around mid-April. But knowing that time is of the essence, and it’s important to get the content out there as soon as possible to support people in these trying times, I am going to publish previews of draft chapters as I write them — both on my website, and here on Medium.com.

My greatest wish is that this content will be useful to you. If you are feeling scared or lonely in your solitude, I hope it will bring you peace. If you’re surviving solitude, but enduring rather than enjoying it, I hope it will help you appreciate its opportunities. And if you’re relishing this chance to escape the daily routine, I hope this book articulates what you already know to be true to the…