“All mankind is of
one author, and is of one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn
out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must
be so translated…As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon
the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us
all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness…No
man is an island, entire of itself…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am
involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
it tolls for thee.”1 “Human beings do not thrive when isolated from
others;” therefore, we must look outward to work on ourselves. What we do
creates the butterfly effect and plays a role in other patterns.
What does that mean
for me? I like my island very much and I like to travel to my island a lot.
Sometimes the natives kick me out – they think I’m crazy – but for the most
part I enjoy my solitude on my lovely island with unicorns and rainbows. I
understand the need for us to look outward in order for us to grow. A lifetime
isn’t enough time to learn all of one’s mistakes…we must learn from each other.
On a more personal note, I feel that our soul isn’t pretty unless we seek to
better society through helping others achieve their goals. With that said…what
is the big hubbub about being with others?
I am a social pariah.
I am a single woman at twenty-nine years old. I have never been married and,
well, never been in a serious relationship. The closest to a long term
relationship I had was with a guy for three months and it closely resembled
“Shaimee’s” relationship from “The Big Bang Theory.” “One must kiss many frogs
before she finds her prince,” I have been told MANY, countless times. My theory
is…why the heck am I going to go around kissing frogs and getting warts when I
can just spot the frog with the crown and kiss him?
I know what I want in
life. I know what kind of man I want in life. Until I find him, I’m going to be
single and happy. I have gone to restaurants alone, movies alone and played the
third wheel many times. However, I try to enjoy myself and, besides playing the
third wheel, I have enjoyed my “me time” immensely.
Of course, no man is
an island and, when one tends to prefer single-dom, society has a tendency to
berate those who have their islands…for reasons unknown to me. Single women
have the labels of being ugly or high-maintenance. There is also a new label
coming out that single women are shallow. Since when is it bad to not settle?
We push our children to do their best and aim for the starts. Why can’t we do
the same in relationships? How come people feel the need to pair others up,
when they have nothing in common? Why must we kiss every frog instead of
waiting for that one with the crown?
1)
Donne, John. (2012). Devotions upon emergent occasions and seuerall steps in my
sickness –Meditation XVII, 1624. Retrieved from The Phrase Finder.