DO NOT DISTURB

Human connection is essential to survive but falling in love with solitude is just as romantic

- MIA CASTRO

“No man is an island”–arguably the most famous poem of John Donne that’s often quoted today. Resonating with many for the main reason that we all long for companionship. It can be argued that we can never have enough of our neighbors’ pain for being aware of it makes us stronger. This makes human connection not only an exchange of information but, an exchange of humanity that makes us intrinsically needing it in our lives to thrive. Personally, I fall in the in-between of this notion and no, it’s not because my astrology sign is a Libra, but because I’ve grown content in my self-reliance. Friends who know me personally, know that I’m the type who takes hours to reply or someone who prefers to meet up rather than talking it over through text. Even my partner of five years is not an exception to this. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy socializing and I’m always up to getting dragged to a party, but at the end of the night, I prefer going home to my island just the way it is—quiet and isolated. Then the pandemic hit and surprisingly, it seemed like connecting with people took more time and energy than before.

LIKE-MINDED MINDS