When nobody wakes you up in the morning, and when nobody waits for you at night, what do you call it, freedom or loneliness?
Charles Bukowski
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
In an age where independence is the buzzword, most of us seem to overlook the importance of interdependence. As academic lives become more competitive and work cultures get more demanding, one cannot help put everything else at stake to stand out. Invariably, this leads us to sacrificing the one most important thing that makes us human – our relationships. Ironically, by the time we have everything we strove for, we no longer have anyone to cherish those accomplishments with.
ARE RELATIONSHIPS EVERYTHING?
Well, for a social animal like man, they do mean a lot. Picture this, would you rather spend your life in a million-dollar penthouse if you had no family or friends? A lot of people, introverts in particular, might be tempted to say yes, but think again. We are so used to certain things in our lives that we tend to take them for granted. For instance, would your life be the same if you didn’t have your mother or wife treating you to your favorite dishes every weekend? Or would you ever be the same person if you didn’t have that one friend you could share all your secrets with?
DOES FREEDOM MEAN NOTHING?
Of course not! Everyone aspires to be free in more ways than one. However, as is the case with every good thing, excess of anything is bad. Too much freedom cuts down on a healthy reliance on your near and dear ones, to the point that you start normalizing this newfound independence. Before you know it, you have distanced yourself from everyone who made you feel loved and wanted.
CONCLUSION
While it is important to be independent in life, do remember to leave enough room for the people who make your life worth living. If this means being dependent on them in certain ways, then so be it. Remember, you will never be a burden to your family and friends, and your time is all they seek in return for the little things they do for you.
Henry Charles Bukowski, popularly known as Charles Bukowski, was an American novelist and short story writer. Known for his witty quotes, Bukowski once wrote: “When nobody wakes you up in the morning, and when nobody waits for you at night, what do you call it, freedom or loneliness?”