Why you are not alone
Look around you, what can you see? Stop. Breathe. Listen. Look. Are there people near you? I wonder what the story is of the people around you? What are they doing? Where are they going? How are they feeling? Are they sad? Are they happy? Do they have family?
Everyone has a story!
As I write this I’m sitting in my local library where I come to work. To my left is a lady in sports wear who looks like she is working on her business. She has her apple headphones in and looks very focused. In front of me is an older man, who is moving slowly up an aisle looking for a book. I wonder what type of book he is looking for. Who is the book for? Does he have family? To my right are two young people who look like university students who look like they are working on an assignment. I wonder when it is due? Do you ever ask these types of questions?
It’s so important that we remember every person you see and interact with has their own unique story. The people around us have feelings and emotions. They have pressures just like you and me. They need to pay bills, have relationship challenges, life difficulties and are trying to do something with their life too. It’s easy to forget that strangers are actually humans.
It’s easy to be surrounded by people and forget that they have their own unique story. Do you ever feel like you are alone in a crowded room. People may be near us, yet we feel so isolated and alone. I know at times this is how I feel. I’m a pastor yet there are times when I feel so alone. I’m introverted by personality type, so I internalise everything. If I’m struggling, the last thing I will do is share my struggles with others. It’s taken me time to realise that this is not healthy and it’s important for me to share these with others.
Everyones life sucks sometimes!
When was the last time you had a terrible day? Tayla and I had one a few days ago. We had been fighting all day, both were sick, the house was a mess and it was just a terrible day. That afternoon I jumped on my phone and scrolled through instagram and thought to myself, “All their lives look so much better than ours!” As I saw all the people that I follow’s highlights from the day. It just felt defeating as it felt like everyone had the perfect day yet we were arguing like cats and dogs.
A few days later I was reflecting on our terrible day and realised that I felt so alone that day. I honestly felt like we were the only couple in the world who argued, who had a really messy house and had pressures of life but this is just not true. I called one of my good friends to just chat with him as it had been a rough week. He told me that him and his wife had been fighting also and that things at work were really stressful. We were not alone! Other people had issues, what a relief!
We are better together!
I simply write today to encourage you friend that you may be going through a rough patch but there is help available. Things may not be good and you may feel all alone. Everyone else’s life may look perfect but it's not true. All of us have go through tough times and are far from perfect. Let's care for one another and live an authentic life. We are better together, don't do life alone. If you need help ask for it, don't let pride get in the way of you finding help. It takes boldness to be authentic but there is freedom in being vulnerable with those closest to us.
Who is that person that you need to call and just share what you are going through? Find a person you can trust and lean on. A great way to do this is in a church. There is a great sense of community in churches and you can do life with people. Let's not live life in isolation, as isolation is a dangerous place.