Your island

I've always heard that no man is an island. That man is a social animal. Or words to that effect. But in today's world and age we all need our islands. The lyrics of an old song drift into my head :"Where do you go to my lovely?" So where do you go when you want to be alone in your head? Do you take off for a long walk? Or a hike? Go off on an expensive vacation overseas to unwind? Or simply settle down on your couch or bed to binge watch T.V? Or read a book? Maybe you head to your garden. Yank out a few weeds. Plant a few saplings. Go off on a long drive. 

We might have different ways of relaxing, of coping with stress but all of us need a space where we can let go and just be. 

While the world around you might be exploding into mayhem and madness what is the only thing you hold on to? Me I read books. That's my island. My space. 

There is so much that is wrong with the world today. 

There is so little any of us can do about it. 

People killed in Texas, people dying in Iran quake, school boy murdered in Ryan- ugly disturbing things. Gone are the days when we could sit in our homes and say complacently- how does nuclear testing in Korea threaten us? How does a church full of people gunned down in the US affect us? The world is shrinking. It is invading our homes. We cannot be impervious to anything that happens anywhere in the world. Be it France, England, US, China, or India. The social media has seen to it. And in such a scenario all of us need an island we can turn to. Where we can drink of the cup of forgetfulness and be selfish. I say it is not natural but imperative that we do so. To hold on to our sanity. To be in touch with ourselves. 

Because unless you have an island somewhere inside of you or out of it you can retreat to, life becomes pretty much unbearable. Then man kills man, countries go to war, worlds disintegrate. Mayhem and madness happens. 

Search for that island which gives you your slice of self, that momentary reprieve, that escape and forgetfulness all of us crave but few admit to craving, and go there. If even it's only in your head. For it's your special space in this great big world. Your island.