Turning the Page, A Need for Active Compassion
When did talking about equality become something to be mocked.Â
Everything that’s been going on has got me thinking, so I wrote it down.
I’m turning 23 in a few days and I’ve realized that my views of the world and the people within it are expanding. I’m less than one month away from finishing college, and now I have to figure out what direction I want to take in my life. I think most of my peers are in the same position, where at this stage we experience an awakening to the fact that we’re about to step into an unknown world.
That… can be terrifying. But there is something else that is even more amazing. I couldn’t be happier to be where I am right now because it reminds me that I’m only at the beginning; there are so many people, places and things to experience. This is coinciding with another stage, one where I’m discovering how truly awe-inspiring the world we live in is. For me, it’s falling in love with science; behavioral, psychological, environmental, astronomical, cosmological… anything I can get my hands on. I’m a classic right brain, creative kind of person; I never really thought I would read about classical and quantum physics for fun, mainly because of how “left-brained” I perceived it as. I realize now how silly it is to pigeonhole myself into thinking something’s uninteresting solely because it’s not related to the part of my brain I’m better at using.
This said, there is the harsh reality of how terribly sad our world can be. Turn on the news, and your heart breaks. Unless they’ve managed to slip in that adorable clip of one turtle friend helping another in need. It’s weird… with all the atrocities we see, we’re meant to feel better by seeing how amazing animals are to one another. If we are the elite species, why are we essentially being told that animals are more capable of compassion than human beings? Why does it seem like the minority is willing to be selfless? It feels almost trite to remind people that we are all living creatures deserving of love, respect and tolerance. You might roll your eyes at this, and that’s part of the problem. When did talking about equality become something to be mocked? I’m faced with the constant problem of seeing pure beauty in humanity on a regular basis through interactions I have with others, and then having to swallow the bitter pill of truth that, en masse, it is far too easy to lose sight of that same beauty. But that does not mean it is no longer there. We all know, in our hearts and our minds, down to our very core, that we need to achieve peace in our society. No one should lose his or her life or someone they love because of senseless violence. We accept this evil as a reality because it feels inevitable, unstoppable.
If we want to really change the world we live in, we have to start with ourselves on an individual level. We need to attain harmony with the people and world around us. Unfortunately, this is not a right we are given. We must demand it, and work hard to achieve it. It’s one thing to want it; it’s another to moan and lament about it, but the difference is made when actively pursued.
We all need to actively practice compassion. One of the many things I’ve learned so far is that it is honestly easier to be kind. Being negative, being mean, being hurtful… it not only affects the people you’re doing it to, but yourself. Everyone wants to be happy, and one very helpful step is to be gentle, patient, and empathetic. Recognize that just because that other person is different, it does not mean they neither desire nor deserve the same right of being treated like a human being. This doesn’t necessarily mean having to go out of your way to be nice to people, in turn making it feel like a chore, to feel like you're contributing to bettering our world. A smile can be enough. Replacing judgment with understanding can be enough. If nothing else, it’s a start.
I hope this doesn’t seem patronizing. I have so much to see, so much more to experience and learn, and this is the beginning of my journey. I started writing what’s on my mind for the sake of coherence, but now I want to share it with those willing to listen. I don’t want to sound preachy or to offend. I try to do my part to help, and I only wish for this idea to become a part of our daily conversation.
Every day we are faced with a choice: to be openhearted and loving or, to not be. We all know what the right choice is. To me, Carl Sagan's ability to put humanity in perspective says it best.
I hope everyone’s enjoying themselves during the holidays! Eat, drink and love well.
