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books motivation Quotes

Why is isolation so dangerous?

Has anyone felt isolated lately? Of course, we have! After all quarantine is a synonym for isolation. Hospitals have isolation wards that keep infected people from spreading illness. In some situations, like a pandemic, isolation is necessary.

Health professionals have told us isolation has been necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Yet, It isn’t easy for any of us. There has been several recent articles on how isolation is affecting us.

I liked today’s quote by Mark Batterson because of its humorous approach. It also reminds me isolation can become dangerous because it can cause us to do some crazy things.

  • We may start believing the negative self-talk that comes from our thoughts.
  • We may find unhealthy ways to numb the loneliness
  • When we finally get with people, we may come off as desperate, or a little neurotic (especially if you introduce you volleyball as your new friend)
  • It opens us up to scammers and others that take advantage of the lonely and isolated.

Batterson’s book is about how to listen to the voice of God. He reminded me that one way to hear His voice is to be in a community of believers. We all need friends and mentors to keep us from going off the rails. Isolation and a lack of humility can be a great disadvantage when you need someone to talk through an idea.

We are all social creatures. Even introverts need time with others. We may not be able to meet face-to-face. Technology may not be your strong suit. But I encourage you to find ways to reach out to friends even when it may take extra effort. We all need others to keep us from getting very lonely, and a little neurotic.

"When we isolate ourselves from others, we become islands unto ourselves. And like Tom Hanks in the movie 'Cast Away,' we eventually draw a face on a volleyball, name it Wilson, and start talking to it." Mark Batterson in "Whisper"

Categories
Internet love Social Media

Is It Easier or Harder to Love Your Neighbor These Days?

Is social distancing getting the better of you these days? Do you find it hard to love your neighbor while maintaining a distance of at least six feet (1.8288 meters)? Do you find yourself wondering what everyone else is doing on the other side of the fence?

This morning, my wife and I went to the grocery early. We figured it was best to get there before the crowds really kicked in. Well, the crowds were already at our grocery by 7:00 AM. I can only imagine how it would go up from there. The cashier remarked that they were going to limit the number of people within the store Monday and that would add to today’s crowds.

I needed some items at the local big-box retailer. It was less crowded. But that was because they were already limiting the number of people in the store. Both places were limiting the amount of “necessary items” you could purchase. At the big-box retailer, I saw a guy stopped for attempting to purchase an excess of bathroom tissue. It was probably for the best. The guy could not have gotten all of that into his car anyway.

I have to admit, it’s been easier to keep in touch with my friends in other states than locally. It seems silly to have a video conference with someone in the same town, but acceptable to do the same with someone out of state. I’ll need to get over that stigma.

The Internet and social media make it easier for me to keep in touch with friends and family. But I am ashamed to admit it’s hard to connect with the family next door since I don’t know their names. This extended time of quarantine has made me reconsider how I connect with people and what is the best way to do that once we get back to some form of mobility again.

What about you? Have you found it easier or harder to connect with your neighbors during the stay-in-place orders?

Illustration of a man suspiciously looking over a fence while a dog observes him with Concern
Copyright © 2007 Kevin Spear