This article is inspired by the music video "All We Do" by Oh Wonder.
What does it mean to be human?
This question recently sparked my interest and has made me recall major life events in the past year alone. This question has also made me think about the human race as a whole and the qualities it possesses. Not one specific trait defines a human, but rather a combination of one's own perspectives and understanding.
I came to realize that we usually live in fear, because of death, of making mistakes, or of not finding success. And before we know it, our time comes to an end, and we die before we even get to fully live. Back in October, I got into a bad car accident that left my car totaled. My initial reaction, to retreat in fear of even stepping into a moving vehicle, hindered me for a while. Yet, as time moved on, I learned how to cope with my pain in order to more forward in life. I believe that the willingness to learn from mistakes, to pick yourself up and try again, acts as one of the most beautiful attributes of humans. Thus, being human means taking chances and persevering against life's hardships, before it becomes too late.
The human life is fragile. Life is short, and we know that. I lost my grandmother quite unexpectedly in April and to this day, I mourn. Forcing myself to face this fact, has made me realize how limited our time is with the people we love. Only after her death did I begin to regret not being in her company as much as I would have appreciated, and now I have to live with those decisions for the rest of my life. However, sharing my experiences with others acts as a reminder to myself to not repeat past mistakes. Life is a learning process and acknowledging the battles make them easier to fight.
Being human requires emotion. Emotions prove that humans are vulnerable and need the presence of other people to lead a fulfilling life. As a race, we have a duty to stand hand-in-hand with one another, to support one another. This unchanged concept has shown its face throughout history, although we continue to ignore it. The word "ubuntu" derives from an old African philosophy which includes essential human virtues such as compassion and empathy. Along with bettering ourselves each day, to remain human, we must better the world around us. Giving back to and improving our communities allows us to grow and prosper as a society.
Humans need a purpose, a long term goal to make a difference in the world. This fact differentiates humans from every other species on this planet. Other animals make decisions that only affect their own abilities to survive in the wild. However, we, as humans, the most powerful beings on Earth, have the strength to affect every other species on this planet, as well our own. Without purpose in life, are we nothing more than animals living off of basic survival instincts?
To me, these characteristics are what shape each human to become so unique. As I start my first year of college, I have made it my mission to achieve a little more humanity in my life. I hope my readers take the same challenge into consideration. Because in the end, being human is a gift, and we should never forget that.
This article is dedicated to my grandmother. Rest is peace, Nana.