Jump over that wall

Author: Zhao Jingwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Appropriate "loneliness" is beneficial to your life
The more extraordinary a person is, the greater they become, and the more isolated they are. Loneliness deepens their perception and makes them wiser in observing the heights of life. Perhaps because the gestation process of humans is solitary—we practice loneliness alone in the womb, unlike swarm-living plankton that live in a group from the moment of life, in a "socialized" state. Therefore, alongside "society," loneliness also accompanies our lives. This profound loneliness urges us to embrace a certain degree of "loneliness" in life, spending time alone. Appropriate solitude not only does no harm to our lives but also greatly benefits cultivating a contemplative temperament and fostering the ability and habit of independent thinking.
Man is a social being and needs a certain society to grow healthily. But have you noticed that infants enjoy playing alone, even when parents or other children are present, they rarely pay attention. This might be a memory of solitude in the womb! The elderly dislike loneliness but prefer solitude, as if it were a beautiful recollection of their time in the womb. At the beginning and end of life, we both exhibit the inherent colors of existence. This is indeed a fascinating phenomenon. We speak of "appropriate loneliness" to distinguish it from the loneliness of losing one's mother in childhood, losing one's spouse in middle age, losing one's children in old age, or being isolated from the crowd for various reasons. The latter kind of loneliness does only harm and no good to life. "Appropriate loneliness" is a secret stronghold of a certain unique value in life, a stage that accommodates inescapable emotions. This loneliness seeks simplicity in a complicated world, tranquility in a bustling city, elegance amidst worldly pressures, purity in reluctant conformity, and peace in life's.
One can say that appropriate loneliness is a form of cultivation in our lives. Appropriate solitude is not getting trapped in a certain so-called state of mind from which one cannot escape. Being unable to extricate oneself is not a state of life but a rejection of human reason and an aversion to the "red dust" of the world. Appropriate loneliness is an expression of extreme love for life and an inner driving force that propels human civilization and refines our lives.
Imagine, after a period of hard work, you step away from the complexities of life and find yourself in a quiet and peaceful environment, alone and still. You can think of anything or nothing at all; you don’t say what you don’t want to, don’t do what you don’t want to, and don’t see those you don’t want to meet. There is no worldly deceit or intrigue, only your own world. Isn’t this a state of being? During this time of appropriate solitude, you can reflect deeply on your past life and thoughtfully plan for your future. You can recall the people, events, and things that left you beautiful memories, as well as those that you can’t look back on with fondness. You can also, like all outstanding figures in the world, face life with passion while quietly conversing with your own heart. Of course, you won’t forget that you are "appropriately solitary"