What Punch the Monkey Taught Us About Rejection
Have you seen the videos of Punch the monkey at the Ichikawa City Zoo? Punch was abandoned, then shunned and treated like shit by the other monkeys before finding comfort in a stuffed orangutan from Ikea.
I think the world collectively shed a tear watching those videos where Punch was pushed away by his mom and then dragged by an older monkey. Damn those mean monkeys! How could they do that to sweet little Punch? To their credit, the zoo explained that this is a normal part of the monkey process, but still, the monkey world is harsh.
Punch, like all of us, just wanted to be accepted and loved. He wanted to be part of the group and feel their support. Watching him face rejection wasn’t easy for anyone who knows what it feels like to be cast aside or made to feel less-than. But in his life, Punch left us with a few lessons worth remembering:
Exclusion Sucks - Leaving someone out, even casually, cuts deeper than we think.
Judgment Over Compassion - Often, we’re quicker to judge differences and slower to offer patience and understanding.
Neglect Hurts - Ignoring someone’s needs or loneliness leaves lasting scars.
So Do Small Cruelties - Even minor dismissals or behaviors can make someone feel unwanted.
Everyone Craves Belonging - Punch reminds us that basic acceptance and kindness cost nothing but mean everything.
At some point, we’ve all been Punch and felt that rejection, and at some point, we’ve all behaved like the shitty monkeys who rejected him. Like monkeys, people can be harsh, selfish, and ridiculous. Assholes even. But here’s the thing: We, as people, have the power to choose our behavior, while monkeys are operating mostly on instinct.
So the question is pretty simple: do we want to behave like the mean monkeys? Or do we want to be like the one named Onsing—the monkey who reached out, accepted Punch, and cared for him when no one else would?
Imagine how different things might be if we were all a little more like Onsing. If we chose kindness and inclusion instead of exclusion and cruelty. No judging. No pushing someone out because they’re different or awkward. Just being there for one another.
Punch only needed one monkey to choose kindness. A lot of people do, too. So just for today (tomorrow and forever) I’m trying to be a Onsing. I think the world could use a few more of them.
Want to read more about surviving rejection?
They Ghosted, and I Grieved - Surviving a Friendship Breakup
It’s Silly to Think Tearing Someone Else Down Will Build You Up
Have You Ever Taken A Personality Test
Products We Love
This sweet little book tells Punch’s story—one I can’t wait to share with my grandkids.
Can’t get enough of Punch? Check out him snuggling with his favorite plush pal—double the cuteness!
Been rejected or ghosted? This journal is helps you toughen up your mindset and stop caring about dumb sh*t and mean people.