A Room of One's Own

Virginia Woolf published her essay in 1929 and while the main point of her work was discussing the need for writers to have space (and money) of their own in order to excel at their work to the same degree as a man the whole concept of women having a place of their own was almost radical. 

       When a realtor shows a couple a home, they automatically assume that the woman’s room is the kitchen.  Have you noticed that?  Today we hear the term “man cave” but is there a lady’s boudoir designed in new homes?  There’s a “bonus room” out in a hallway, usually near what would be the children’s rooms.   My girlfriends tell me they used to have to lock themselves in the bathroom to get away from the trailing demands of their little children. Even then, the child would put their head to the floor crack and cry out “Mom what are you doing?”  I chuckled when they told me stories like that but at the same time I marvelled that there was no place for them to go in the house to simply be alone for five minutes.

       Some 80 years after Virginia wrote her essay we are still searching out space for ourselves, both literally and figuratively speaking.  What is your solution?  Is there space at work over a lunch hour where you can have some peace and quiet?  The space doesn’t need to be in the home if that is out of the question.  Is the community library an option?  Is taking a walk in the park and finding a bench to sit for some time appealing?  In fact, a person does not necessarily need to sit to be tranquil, simply walking in the open air can give one time to think or be still in mind and spirit.

       Be creative.  Think outside the room.