Sidrit Reka

“I am only seven, but I understand that it is this fact, more than any other, that makes my family different: we don’t go to school.
Dad worries that the Government will force us to go but it can’t, because it doesn’t know about us. Four of my parents’ seven children don’t have birth certificates. We have no medical records because we were born at home and have never seen a doctor or nurse. We have no school records because we’ve never set foot in a classroom. When I am nine, I will be issued a Delayed Certificate of Birth, but at this moment, according to the state of Idaho and the federal government, I do not exist.”
― Tara Westover, Educated

“Artists hear what no one else hears. They see what no one else sees. They say what no one else says. They must. And to do this, they traffic in the slippery yield of their own souls. They bring to earth the wrack and lode of depths that only they can reach and still come back alive.
Inspiration is a flash. A momentary flicker that-if the would-be recipient is mired in mindless chatter-might easily die unseen. It cannot be repeated, duplicated, slowed down, cached for viewing at some more convenient time. The mind awaiting inspiration must be primed, ever awake, aware. For this it is best off alone.”
― Anneli Rufus, Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto

“Evidence says artistic talent is inborn, a genetic trait. Any kindergarten teacher can see that some five-year-olds draw and paint and sculpt better than the rest of the class-that they love it and apply themselves to it. It matters to them. Whether those five-year-olds grow up to be professional artists or even adopt art as a hobby depends largely on environment: whether adults encourage them, whether they have access to art supplies, whether they exist in a time and place that let them pursue art.”
― Anneli Rufus, Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto

“And what does work mean for loners? For some, the smart and lucky ones who work alone, it means accomplishing things without being made to suffer. Simple as it should be, no loner can take this point for granted. Along with whatever other hardships work brings-difficulty, danger, dullness, unfair pay-loners who labor any way besides alone endure one more. It is a hardship nonloners don't even know exists, cannot conceive of.
How much time spent with others is too much? Side by side, within their sight, in earshot-forty minutes? Two hours, tops. Yet today's standard work shift lasts eight. Putting loners in busy workplaces all day is like making albinos pick cotton without sunscreen.”
― Anneli Rufus, Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto