When it comes to loneliness, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it the frustration of lacking friends because of introversion, the sadness of having no one to talk with about your own aggravation, the helplessness and disappointment of not being able to solve difficulties, or the melancholy of choosing to put on your backpack and go away from your native place alone. It seems that “loneliness” is always the symbol of negative emotions, and we do not want to live with it.
谈起孤独，你最先想到的会是什么？是因为内向而缺少朋友的失落惆怅，是受了委屈无人诉说的伤心难过，是遇到困难无法解决的无助失望，还是选择一个人背起行囊奔赴异乡的惆怅忧伤。似乎“孤独”从来都是负面情绪的象征，我们不愿意与“孤独”共处.
Perhaps in most people's eyes, lonely people are different, out of place, and difficult to communicate. It is difficult for us to understand their ways of life, let alone get close to their hearts. In fact, people who are lonely on the surface often have a rich spiritual world, a strong soul and personality.
或许在大多数人眼中，孤独的人是另类的，格格不入的，难以交流的。我们难以理解他们的生活方式，更不必说去接近他们的内心。实则不然，表面孤独的人，往往有丰富的精神世界，有强大的灵魂与人格。
Wang Jicai, a great hero who guarded an island in his whole life. He accepted the task of guarding China's important strategic island Kaishan Island at the age of 26. From then on, he and his wife regarded the island as their home, were accompanied with loneliness, silently lived in the isolated island without water or electricity, even plants are difficult to survive, and dedicated all his youth to the career of the motherland's coastal defense. Finally, he died of a sudden illness and did not leave the island till his life came to the end. In the eyes of most people, no one would be lonelier than him, but he himself never thought of leaving, instead, he chose to realize the value of his life in the company of solitude during his long journey, which lasted 32 years.
有这样一位守岛英雄王继才，他26岁接受了守护我国重要战略岛屿开山岛的任务。从此，他与妻子以海岛为家，与孤独相伴，在没水没电、植物都难以存活的孤岛上默默坚守，把青春年华全部献给了祖国的海防事业，最终因为突发疾病，到死也没有离开这座岛。在大多数人眼中，他是一个再孤独不过的人，可他从未因此想过离开，而是选择在漫漫征途中与孤独为伴，实现自己的人生价值，一守就是32年。
We are often afraid of being alone, so we may change ourselves to avoid being out of place, we may surrender to difficulties for fear of lacking help, we may give up our dream college and precious growth opportunities because we do not want to be alone. However, “loneliness” can also be the synonym for bravery, independence, perseverance and persistence, and people who choose to be alone can also be the honorable who are independent, dare to challenge, and stick to guarding silently. Only by learning to live with solitude and be accompanied with “loneliness” can you enrich your inner world and improve your personality. In fact, “loneliness” is just a useful remedy for our growth process.
我们常常害怕孤独，会为了避免格格不入而改变自己，会因为害怕缺少帮助而放弃挑战困难，会因为不愿孤身在外而放弃梦想的大学和宝贵成长的机会。可“孤独”也可以是勇敢、独立、坚守、执着的代名词，孤独的人也可以是敢于挑战、独立自主、默默坚守的可敬的人。只有学会与“孤独”共处，和“孤独”为伴，才能丰富自己的内心世界，完善自己的人格。“孤独”，其实是我们成长过程中的一剂良方。
“Loneliness” is not a beast that we need to hide or run away from. Just living with it and growing in it.
“孤独”不是洪水猛兽，无需我们藏匿和逃避。与“孤独”共处，在“孤独”中成长。
Author: Zhou Sihan
Date: August 29, 2022
