Here’s something that kind people do, that the rest of the world does not:
They give a damn about issues that don’t affect them personally.
In our increasingly polarized world, this kind of expansive empathy has become not just uncommon, it’s damn near revolutionary.
Sadly, too many people operate from a place of self-interest most of the time. They only care about issues that affect them, their families, their communities, their identities, or their financial situations.
This is an incredibly sad and reductive way to live, and there’s a huge problem with this self-centered approach to life.
When we only care about issues that directly affect us, we create a world where problems persist because the people with the power to solve them don’t experience the pain of those problems personally. (Please re-read that sentence).
Let me give you some examples of what I mean:
❌ If you’ve never struggled with mental health issues, it’s easy to dismiss the importance of mental health resources and support.
❌ If you’ve never experienced discrimination based on your race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion, it’s easy to downplay the significance of systemic inequality.
❌ If you’ve never worried about where your next meal is coming from, it’s easy to have opinions about poverty that aren’t grounded in reality.
❌ If you’ve never lived with a disability (many of which are invisible to others, btw), it’s easy to overlook the barriers that make everyday activities challenging.
❌ If you’ve never been an immigrant, it’s easy to form opinions about immigration policy without understanding the human stories behind the statistics.
On the other hand, here’s what truly kind people do differently:
👉🏾 They choose to care anyway.
👉🏾 They choose to educate themselves about issues that don’t directly affect them.
👉🏾 They choose to listen to people whose experiences are different from theirs.
👉🏾 They choose to use their privilege, resources, and influence to advocate for others.
Here’s what I know for sure: kindness isn’t about creating a world that works just for me and people like me. It’s about creating a world that works for everyone.
And to be painfully clear, this isn’t about unnecessary guilt or performative activism.
This is about recognizing that our individual wellbeing is connected to the collective wellbeing of our communities and our world.
When some people suffer, we all suffer. When we help others to thrive, we all benefit.
Understanding this truth, and expanding our definition of the word “Us”, is how we can begin to heal the world.
And it all starts with the uncommon work of giving a damn beyond ourselves ❤️.