A few decades ago, the song “People” was popularised by Barbra Streisand. The first few lines of the song reminds us that “… people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” This sounds contrary to the common perception that being successful is being “self-made” or being independent. How can people-dependent people be lucky? How can they be more blessed?
The next lines then continue to explore the fact that really, “we’re children, needing other children; and yet letting our grown-up pride hide all the need inside.” It presumes that people who appear that they don’t need people are really just proud and unlucky. Unblessed.
As human beings, we were made to be social beings. Our wholeness depends on other people. Without other people around us, we are incomplete. This does not mean you have to be married. You have to reach out to others who may have different personalities but have similar values as yours.
If you are an introvert, it is always difficult to unravel yourself, including your weaknesses, to others. But, you simply need to be surrounded by people. You need to engage with people.
They could be just acquaintances, good friends, relatives, family, ex-classmates, ex-officemates, social workers, counsellors, pastors, fellow church members. We can be social online. But, we must continue to be social offline.
No matter how young or old you are, it is always a blessing to have people around you who understand and support you. However, it is not always easy to find these people. Sometimes, we belong to a group where members may not be of similar personality as yours. They may like things you hate or you do not care about. But, these people still enable you to become whole. They allow you to grow. To be humane.
Times will come when you would feel alone. And, lonely. Hopeless. You may sometimes struggle in life with different matters. But if you surround yourself with people, things will not be as bad.
You may find that the risk of not being accepted is easier to face than living a life wherein no one can support you, especially when you are struggling with certain issues. That is a much higher risk.
“Be a person who needs people.” It is only when you are aware that you need people will you ever reach out to other people. At least, sometimes, be vulnerable. Need people. Then you will appreciate and be grateful for other people in your life.
Learn. Hope. Pray that you will be a person who need people. Let’s not let our “grown-up pride hide all the need inside.” Reach out.