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Help a Stranger When You Can
5 years ago
Hey.
So, a lot has happened this year. I don't think I have to go into detail about it. But I wanted to talk about something a bit distantly related. We here it a lot these days. "We're all in this together." But that isn't just true because of the virus, it's true on an ordinary day too. We live in a society, and our lives are connected to each others in intricate and complex ways that are difficult to fully understand. Every action we take, every choice, and every word we say impacts those around us. It impacts their behaviors, their lives, and their own choices. We can't pretend that our choices only impact ourselves. We must consider how our actions impact those around us as well.
We live in a hard and often unforgiving world, where simple bad luck is all it takes to bring a person to their knees. But bad luck has a counter. Kindness, compassion, and simply being considerate of others can make all of the difference in the world. A kind word, timed just right, can save a life. Even if it just brightens a person's day, that effect cascades, and can help that person face what life has to throw at us. When someone is suffering, they usually cannot stop that suffering themselves. They need someone who has what they need to come in and help them. We cannot ignore them, or their suffering will get worse. That suffering, because we are all connected, WILL spill over to others. Misery loves company, and spreads much like a virus.
It's not enough to simply not perpetuate suffering. It's not enough to just not hurt people directly. One of the biggest killers in this world is apathy. I suppose I'm just asking... please care about others. Even if you don't personally know them, they are people just like you. They might not be as lucky as you, though. We can't just look out for our own interests and rely on others to take care of themselves, because our interests will inevitably come into conflict with each other. Not only that, but many people cannot take care of themselves, and neither can the people they know. Without someone coming in to help them, their suffering will grow worse.
Please, be kind. Be gentle. Be compassionate to others, even if you don't know them. Be patient when they mess up. Be generous when they need help.
-Sata Kalmar
So, a lot has happened this year. I don't think I have to go into detail about it. But I wanted to talk about something a bit distantly related. We here it a lot these days. "We're all in this together." But that isn't just true because of the virus, it's true on an ordinary day too. We live in a society, and our lives are connected to each others in intricate and complex ways that are difficult to fully understand. Every action we take, every choice, and every word we say impacts those around us. It impacts their behaviors, their lives, and their own choices. We can't pretend that our choices only impact ourselves. We must consider how our actions impact those around us as well.
We live in a hard and often unforgiving world, where simple bad luck is all it takes to bring a person to their knees. But bad luck has a counter. Kindness, compassion, and simply being considerate of others can make all of the difference in the world. A kind word, timed just right, can save a life. Even if it just brightens a person's day, that effect cascades, and can help that person face what life has to throw at us. When someone is suffering, they usually cannot stop that suffering themselves. They need someone who has what they need to come in and help them. We cannot ignore them, or their suffering will get worse. That suffering, because we are all connected, WILL spill over to others. Misery loves company, and spreads much like a virus.
It's not enough to simply not perpetuate suffering. It's not enough to just not hurt people directly. One of the biggest killers in this world is apathy. I suppose I'm just asking... please care about others. Even if you don't personally know them, they are people just like you. They might not be as lucky as you, though. We can't just look out for our own interests and rely on others to take care of themselves, because our interests will inevitably come into conflict with each other. Not only that, but many people cannot take care of themselves, and neither can the people they know. Without someone coming in to help them, their suffering will grow worse.
Please, be kind. Be gentle. Be compassionate to others, even if you don't know them. Be patient when they mess up. Be generous when they need help.
-Sata Kalmar
TicklefishMcGee
~ticklefishmcgee
A good post!
Ethro_Knight
~ethroknight
Well said, the world could use a bit of goodness in it, especially now.
