ON HUMANITY, UNIVERSAL SIMILARITIES AND KINDRED SPIRIT

We live in a world that often screams “differences.”  Headlines focus more on cultural divides, and social media amplifies “We” vs “Them” almost everywhere you look. Yet, beneath this dissonance lies a unifying truth: our shared humanity. There's an undeniable truth that binds us all, a silent language that transcends borders and backgrounds. It's the feeling you get when a stranger's smile warms your day, or the empathy you experience when witnessing someone else's struggle. This unspoken connection, this shared sense of humanity, is the invisible thread that weaves us together, that makes us realize how as a race, we are more similar than we are different! 

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As an Anthropologist, I often think about the universality of laughter; a child's innocent giggle, a factory worker’s loud laughter, or an 80-year old’s soft laughter filled with so much experience. I think about the fire lit up in the eyes of everyone present in that moment, often presenting itself as a grin or chuckle – these are expressions understood across cultures, a reminder that the basic human desire for happiness (among other things) unites us. On the other hand, imagine the tear that wells up on your eyes during an emotional movie scene, no matter the language spoken on screen. In that moment, sadness, too, becomes a bridge, a shared experience that strips away differences and reveals our common vulnerability. 

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This shared humanity is precisely why addressing societal injustices becomes a collective responsibility. When we witness discrimination, prejudice, or a lack of basic opportunity, it's not someone else's problem. It's a tear in the fabric of our shared existence. Because injustice inflicted on one weakens the foundation on which we all stand. Being a Global Citizen then, is not defined by the international passports we hold or carry, it is defined by the ways we interact, see and be in the world.

Recently, I started developing an enthusiasm for hiking. I would see pictures of mountain climbers, tied together as they climb a ridiculously dangerous slope and there is a thrill of excitement that I feel. However, much more than the pictures, I think about the strength of the rope, and the security of the connection, which ultimately determines the success of the climb for everyone. In the same way, a just and equitable society creates a stronger foundation for all humans to THRiVE.

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Recognizing this invisible thread that connects us all, this shared sense of being human, is the first step towards creating the world of our deepest longing. It compels us to act, to speak out against wrongs, and to fight for a world where everyone has the chance to climb their own metaphorical mountain. We cannot afford to be bystanders in the face of injustice. And for the longest time, I have been an evangelist of embracing our interconnectedness, for this in its purest form is how we as a people can build a future where this universal thread of humanity becomes a powerful force for positive change.