What does it mean to be human?

I imagine this to be one of the most complex and philosophical questions I have asked myself. As I’ve gotten older, entering adulthood has given me a whole new world of experience that has both enhanced and changed my views on myself, others, and the world. I still wonder, though, what does it really mean? Is it a feeling? A behavior? An interaction? It just can’t be that simple. Humans are scientifically According to the Oxford Dictionary, to be human is to be “of, relating to, or characteristic of people or human beings” …very helpful! I searched further, and as I continued deeper into my google search, I found a public poll conducted by the Smithsonian Institution, asking the same question, “what does it mean to be human?” There was an overwhelming number of responses I had to read through, many of which were ‘jokes’ about spending time on Facebook or about a political opinion (which I can say we’re probably all too tired of reading at this point..) There were, however, a few that really caught my attention. Not only did I agree with what they said, but some of them even deepened my understanding of what it means to be human and helped voice what I had been thinking and feeling about the matter for so long.

One answer to the poll says to be human is “to think, wonder, understand; to fail, to learn, to express ourselves, and, most importantly, to be” –Anonymous. All of these qualities are so important in our growth and expansion and actually using our complex brains and bodies to live among others. While I do agree with this answer entirely, I also feel that it’s missing something very important. When I have asked myself what it means to be human, my instinctive, and rather simple, answer is “to be human is to be kind.” While there are so many other very important qualities worth considering, I am confident that being kind is at the center, at the heart, of it all. There is no feasible reason kindness shouldn’t be most essential when being human. Kindness to oneself, first and foremost, should be primary. Secondly, to be kind to others is also important. I believe it is what really makes this world continue turning. Despite controversy covered in the news both nation- and worldwide, kindness can help human beings persevere through even the toughest, most challenging events. Kindness is key to living in this world, especially if we strive to live in harmony, luckily I’m not the only one who lives by this philosophy. We can become so wrapped up in life that we might forget that at the end of it all, it is how we treat other people. That is what really matters and is ultimately what will keep humankind alive. We are all here on this earth, living life together, whether we like it or not, so why not make it enjoyable for everyone?

Oxford Dictionary’s first definition of the adjective human is followed by a few others, all expanding on the term in a unique way. Specifically, it says that being human is “showing the better qualities of humankind, such as kindness.” I personally think it is so special that this definition is in the OG dictionary, kind of makes it seem pretty legit.

Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. - Dennis Prager