There are times in life where we can feel like we’re all alone. Times where we feel like no one understands us, gets what we’re going through, or even cares. Though it may seem like no one cares sometimes, rarely is that true. Times when we feel like we’re alone, we really aren’t. But it sure can feel that way. This can be a scary time. It reminds me of the story of the young Cherokee Indian’s Rite of Passage…
We Are Not Alone
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth’s rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forrest…blindfolded…and leaves him….alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night…and not take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it. He is all by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night…he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each boy must come into his own manhood.
The boy was terrified…could hear all kinds of noise…Beasts were all around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth… and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically…never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.
Finally, after a horrific night…the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father…sitting on the stump next to him…at watch…the entire night.
We are never truly alone. Even when we do not know it, our family and friends are watching out for us…sitting on a stump beside us.
There Are People Who Care
Despite how lonely we can feel at times, there are people who care about us. Sure they may not show it sometimes, but they do. Perhaps life has them too busy with work, school, or its many challenges for them to show us how much they care. Or, we could flip it. Perhaps we’re too busy with work, school, or life’s many challenges to show the ones we love how much we care.
This is why it’s important to take the time to ensure the one’s we love know that we love them. Plan times to talk with the ones you love to see how they’re doing. You don’t have to make the target of the time together a talk, but you can surely have a talk when you’re together. It’s important to see how our friends and family are doing. Sort of a check in.
The Takeaway
Loneliness and depression can become a problem if we go through life thinking no one cares. When we feel like we’re alone, we feel like there’s no way to take on what the world throws at us. In times like these, remember you’re not alone. There ARE people who care. It’s just that sometimes life may have them so busy they’re not paying attention. Or perhaps life has you so busy that you’re not noticing a friend or family member who is feeling alone. I encourage you to pay attention, plan time with the people you care about and be there for them. If you’re there for them, they’ll be there for you.