[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″ id=”” class=”post-content” style=””][text_output]Isolation by definition means separation; that is, removal from the presence of others. This is motivated by a thought that we do not belong, that we are weird, strange or just unacceptable. But how do we define “strange”, and what is “unacceptable”? What makes someone the subject of ridicule and another the object of praise? Everyone who stood up for social injustice was ridiculed by his opponents and loved by his supporters.
Someone who is isolated either chose to isolate himself or he was forced into isolation. Normally whenever we choose to be isolated it is because we have convinced ourselves that something is unacceptable and we want no part of it. In our minds, the problem is because of the way WE are, or the way EVERYBODY ELSE is. There may be extreme cases where either is necessary. For instance, where there is a contagious disease, we isolate anyone who has it in order to protect others. When WE choose to isolate ourselves, we need to keep checking if this is the correct thing to do. If it is, we need to check again to see if the danger has passed and if it is still necessary.
During the Second World War, Lt Hiroo Onoda was among four Japanese soldiers who entered Lubang, a remote island in the Philippines, to conduct guerrilla warfare for their country. Given the secrecy of the mission, they skillfully avoided contact with people. They ate coconuts and bananas and waited for orders from headquarters. They were told not to kill themselves, but to wait for further instructions. However, nobody told them that the war ended in 1945, so they continued hiding in the jungle.
Many leaflets, newspapers, photos, and letters from family were dropped by airplane saying, “The war is over, come out!” Nonetheless, they couldn’t trust anyone, so they decided to stay. Two of them eventually died and one sneaked away and surrendered. When Onoda, the last of them, finally returned the world had changed. It was nothing like the world he had left behind.
This is sad, however, it is happening right now. Haven’t you been hiding too? You must have heard people say things like “it is not true, you are not strange, we all have something we want to hide. We all have scars, share your heart, CONNECT!” This may have even sounded a little too suspicious.
During his years in hiding, Onoda missed laughter with his parents. He never had a chance to love anyone or raise a family. Moreover, being isolated from the world, everyone seemed to be the enemy and he killed many that seemed like a threat. Haven’t you hurt people to protect yourself? How much happiness are you missing? Your family loves you! There are people around you who are waiting for you. Aren’t you tired of the loneliness? Isn’t it time to trust someone?
Why don’t you come out of isolation? Open your heart and CONNECT…[/text_output][share title=”Share this Post” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” google_plus=”true” linkedin=”true” pinterest=”true” reddit=”true” email=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][vc_raw_html]JTNDc3R5bGUlM0UlMEEuZW50cnktdGh1bWIlMjBpbWclMjAlN0IlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjBtYXgtaGVpZ2h0JTNBJTIwNDAwcHglM0IlMEElN0QlMEElMEEucG9zdC1jb250ZW50JTIwJTdCJTBBJTIwJTIwJTIwJTIwdGV4dC1hbGlnbiUzQSUyMGp1c3RpZnklM0IlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjB0ZXh0LWp1c3RpZnklM0ElMjBpbnRlci13b3JkJTNCJTBBJTdEJTBBJTNDJTJGc3R5bGUlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
