Skip to main content

"Alone is what I have. Alone is what protects me"

Image
By
Humans were not meant to be lone creatures, instead we are supposed to be very very very social creatures. Myth also says that we, by ourselves, are just a part of a whole and spend our entire lives looking for the other half. Why then, does this one dialogue uttered by Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock have such a great impact on most viewers? 

If humans are social creatures,why do we need to be alone to protect ourselves? Why do we choose "none" as our companion, even briefly, if there are 8 billion people on this planet? Most of us unfortunately already know the answer - companionship sometimes hurts and expectations from others leave us broken - we start calling ourselves "damaged". This damage isn't visible, but it creates a scorching emptiness within.

Prevention is better than cure. So, instead of going through that pain once again (followed by years of therapy and healing) we prefer to completely withdraw ourselves from the notion that we "need someone" or that we "have someone" in our lives who can "save us". We pretend to choose being alone (*cough*, loneliness *cough*) and make that our strength based on the principle: if I don't let anyone close to me, no one can let me down". This way we feel shielded from further pain, in the company of our most reliable saviour. For now, this feels calm and peaceful. For now, alone, really is what I have. 

Sherlock was a deemed "high-functioning sociopath", and he makes sure to correct Anderson when he calls him a "psychopath" instead. This in itself is proof that he is alone by circumstance and not by choice. He feels empathy, he feels everything, but  because he had a traumatic childhood, he sees a need to protect himself from getting hurt again, instinctly, by being alone. 

But in the long run, can we really survive like this? Or will we continue to pick ourselves up after every fall and try, just one more time?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Young Girl

By
I turn around and see a little girl Tormented, confused and alone She wants to scream, loud and clear There are demons she needs to fight She is asking for a helping hand A supportive, non-judgemental voice She is looking for someone reliable Her screams are ignored by many Her hand, outstretched. gets tired of waiting She hears a few voices, low murmurs in her direction Singing songs of lies, betrayal and pessimism She tries to shut them out completely  But they end up controlling her heart Whoever she looks up to with helpless eyes Shows her that she is alone in this war Against the exponentially increasing demons Just then I look into the mirror and shudder The young girl is now looking at me with hope Slowly, she grows up into none other than my own self Now, it hits me, the significance of it all I must be my own savior, I am all I have I just need to extend my hand towards myself Pull myself out of the house of darkness & demons Pull myself into the light and let me be Bl...
Post a Comment
Read more

All’s Well That Ends Well? Or Not?

By
A great man has said that “the heart must be fooled into thinking that everything is alright “All is well” in order to get the strength to fight tough situations”. OK, Mr. Aamir Khan aka Baba Ranchhoddas Chanchad said it in the movie 3 idiots, which brilliantly shows the pressures one goes through while adulting. It was more like “Aal izz well” and there is one whole song dedicated to this theory. You are singing it in your head already, aren’t you? Isn’t it amazing that bollywood has a song for every mood, every emotion, every person, I often wonder why we don’t have live background music playing as we go about our lives. Well, as I see it this is the “ fighter” way of trying to motivate ourselves to deal with twisted situations we often find ourselves in. Even if for a second, we feel strong enough to handle things without fear. On the other hand, you know what an ostrich does when it finds itself in grave danger? Instead of running away or saving itself, it sticks its head in the...
Post a Comment
Read more