What does it mean to be human?
I pondered this question for a long amount of time, trying to come up with a good answer. With all the madness occurring every single day, and all the politics that are going nonstop, I have found myself truly questioning what it means for someone to be human. In all honesty, there are tons of good examples of what the answer could be. One could say that being human simply means being a living organism made up of complex organ systems working together to form an intelligent and self-sufficient being. One could also say that being human means being a child of whatever god one believes in, and that it is as simple of that. To me, humans have three aspects to themselves: Mind, body, and soul.
Think about it.
Our minds are constantly thinking. Vibrant thoughts are speeding through our heads every single second, like a busy freeway. We store knowledge, and then retrieve it when it is necessary to do so. Thousands of neurons are sending messages all over our bodies. Nerves are connected to our brain, and we control our physical self through our mind. With our minds, we conceive dynamic and vigorous creations, so it is truly magically what someone can do when they put their mind to it (no pun intended). This leads me to believe that the mind is the most powerful of the three parts of being human.
Our bodies are magnificent creations that start out microscopic and grow thousands the size of that over the course of decades. The intricate systems within our bodies are magnificent on every level. Blood is created and flows throughout the body within a matter of seconds, our heart beats rhythmically on its own, and our lungs take in the oxygen from the space surrounding us. Our bodies are what allow us to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste the world around us. We feel the air move around our bodies, we see the bright, explosive colors of the world, and we smell all the distinctive scents the planet has to offer. Our bodies completely connect us to nature.
Our soul is the most difficult to describe. What is a soul? Does it exist? This has been a debate over thousands of years. I, personally, believe we have a soul. A soul is what allows us to feel. This is not the same feeling as our sense of touch, rather, an emotional type of feel, which, in turn, can actually effect the physical aspects of our bodies. When we die, do you think we just stop thinking, and everything we know fades to black? Do you think that we break free from the physical holds of humanity and ascend to some kind of afterlife? I do not know the answers to the questions, nor do I really want to. These are the types of questions that we are not supposed to know the answers to, making the soul portion of ourselves even more mysterious than before.
Remarkably, the human being is made up of three selves, at least, in my opinion. The mental self, the physical self, and the spiritual self. Each of these selves unite to present who we are. This is simply fascinating in every way. I think more people need to take the time out of their daily lives and truly congratulate themselves for how utterly amazing they are. Every day, people are making huge accomplishments for themselves, but no one seems to notice. Sometimes, this is okay. If you are proud of yourself, then that is all that really matters.
I believe, that we, as humans, are born into this world to find our purpose. It does not make you human to find your purpose, but the journey of finding your purpose does make you human. Through this journey, we learn empathy, compassion, and gratitude. We learn determination and to respect others. Overall, we learn to love. Love is what helps us remember yesterday, cherish today, and hope for tomorrow. The human race would be nothing without love. To me, being human simply means being able to love.
So, stop the arguing and stop the political conversation to remember how brilliant you are. You are so much more than one vote, and you are so much more than a name. You are a living, intelligent organism with feelings and thoughts. You have lived for so long and will continue to do so. Whether you know it or not, your life has made an impact on others and has truly mattered. Above all, please, remember to love. Love will always be the winner.
