Punch the Algorithm

I was scrolling through social media hoping for something uplifting, humorously ridiculous, and mildly entertaining.

However, what an unsurprising disappointment. No doubt I was entertained – but mostly by negativity. There’s only so much racism, abuse, and murder one can consume before it starts to feel somewhat like becoming an unwilling participant. Can someone fix this algorithm, please?

I’ve been trying to avoid those animal rescue videos. My tender heart isn’t that resilient. They make me want to reconsider my usually civil vocabulary 😋.

And then, there’s Punch.
The little monkey who finally found love.

I read that the monkey who befriended Punch is Go-chan – who had endured its own rejection and loneliness. Now they’re inseparable.

Somehow that felt different.

It made me think about us – the human race. How many of us see ourselves in Punch? How many of us have known rejection? Loneliness? That quiet ache of not belonging?

I saw this part where Punch tried to approach two other monkeys during the rain but backed away and hid itself. Then another monkey – unsure if it was Go-chan – went to take Punch from its hiding place.

That hesitation looked painfully familiar.

We can be Punch.
But we can also become Go-chan.

Pain has a way of shaping us – it can harden us, or it can soften us. We all long to be loved and to belong. It is primal.

Watching Punch find belonging melted my heart even further – if that’s even possible. It reminded me that empathy isn’t rare and strengthened my belief in goodness and possibilities.

If animals can show empathy, understanding, and choose companionship after pain, maybe we’re not as far from goodness as we think – if we give not only others, but ourselves, a chance.

And here they are… @photo credit – the internet