The real courage here lies in Oliver's refusal to mistake solitude for selfishness—she's claiming that self-knowledge requires *intention*, not mere withdrawal. Most people who retreat inward do so passively, letting circumstances push them away, whereas Oliver insists on active steering, on choosing your direction rather than drifting. When you stay late at the office to finish your own neglected project instead of scrolling through others' accomplishments, you're in that small boat, rowing deliberately toward something only you can reach. What makes this different from the usual "know thyself" advice is the implication that the journey itself—the deliberate crossing—matters as much as arriving.