David Bowie believed in humanity. He believed in the goodness of people. He was an activist and an artist. He was an icon.
Upon hearing of his passing, I thought a lot about people and the human experience. I am constantly telling people I believe in humanity and our collective experience. Recently, I realized many people don't know what I'm talking about. My belief in the human experience means I believe in:
Empathy. This facet relates to feeling the same as another when they have experienced something you haven't. Sometimes, it's hard to explain why you feel a certain way. I cried when Nelson Mandela died, I cried when Robin Williams died, I cried when Steve Jobs died, and I cried when Maya Angelou died.
It was like this wave of remorse hit me and I knew that a visionary was gone. These people, among so many others, left an irreplaceable mark on the world and there will be no others like them. Music royalty, literary geniuses, ambassadors of peace, unsurpassed inventors, gone in the blink of an eye.
Every person on this planet is connected to each other in some way. At this moment in time, there are 3.57 degrees of separation between all of us. When we lose one person, it is felt by all. Fame is shallow and short lived. Those we choose to remember are those we want to emulate, whether it was their innovation, compassion, intelligence, or charisma that drew us to them. We choose to hold on to the things that made them who they were. Their legacy lives on in the actions of those who loved them.
Altruism. Humans are social creatures; our empathy allows us to sense need in others. We act altruistically. Altruism is defined as the act of doing something for someone for their benefit rather than your own. Audrey Hepburn is known to many for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" but what about her philanthropic accomplishments?
She was an ambassador for UNICEF and WWII survivor. She was an actress and an altruist. I believe individuals can benefit from altruism. We feel fulfilled by helping others become the best versions of themselves. It's in our nature to become passionate about causes that are dear to us. We give our time, resources, or whatever else we can offer. We give full heartedly because we feel we have to.
Uniqueness. Through it all, we have a desire to show the world what makes us different makes us who we are.
Christy Brown was no exception. His art alone is incredible. His story made his art even more impressive. Christy Brown was a man of remarkable talent and even his body couldn't stop him from perfecting his craft. Humans are a diverse group, physically, culturally, and cognitively. We thrive when our uniqueness is celebrated. We transcend barriers when individuals stand together in a common experience. Sometimes, we forget how similar we all are and let our divisions conquer and stifle us. There's no progress in that. Communities who want to truly prosper and grow have to realize our differences provide new perspectives and ideas that can help not just one people, but all people.
Now, John Lennon to sum it up:
"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we are open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life."
