Isolation is the state of being separated or set apart from others.
But it’s in self-isolation that mysteries are born — plans, goals and visions. Dreams so big we dare not speak a single vowel of them because we know our own doubts will echo back through other people’s mouths.
They’ll say “life isn’t a movie” with their discouragements, fears, and negative exclamations. But what if your life is a movie? Not a scene, not an episode, not even a series — but testimonies and fulfilled potentials.
Yes, you’re tired. Doubtful. Afraid of the unknown, afraid of failing. The dream feels bigger than you. You want to give up. But then what? Give yourself another chance. Give your almost-dead goals another chance.
Isolation is also a defense mechanism — distance we create to avoid judgment, stress, or pain. Not everyone who isolates is proud, "full of themselves", some are not even looking for the attention we label they are looking for. Some can’t talk. Some have voices too small to be heard. Some are healing. Some are lost, figuring life out one day at a time. Some are just tired. All we can do is show them that good people exist. We say “be kind” all the time. Let’s actually practice it. We don’t see the battles people fight when we’re not watching.
FOMO — Fear Of Missing Out — fades when isolation becomes self-introspection: examining our thoughts, emotions and motives. That’s where we find our true selves. Not everything needs to know our name. It’s okay to miss things. It’s okay to not have it all right now. It’s okay to be different and to not fit. As long as we’re not losing ourselves to stress, debts, or expectations that make us forget who we are.
Isolation looks different for every person. The least we can do is being kind towards each other and take it one step at a time.