the world

We live in a very selfish world. I often think that if everyone can be just a little bit less selfish everyday, we would be on track to solving all of the world’s problems from poverty to energy crisis. But I guess I can’t ask of the world what I can’t even do myself. I guess all creatures are made to be selfish, first to ensure our own survival, then to provide our own comfort, then finally, to satisfy our own greed.

I read an article this morning that supports this argument, and I was a bit sadder for the world. Then during lunch, I had a great conversation with my coworkers that began with planning for an Indian wedding, and ended with discussions on the aging population problem in China and the story of stuff. And it was wonderful because I’m so fortunate to be surrounded by people who actually care about stuff. People who care about the future, and think often about how things came to be and how we can perhaps make it a little better. And I was a bit more hopeful for the world.

It is often sad to think of the state we are in, and feel so helpless because we can’t fix the world’s problems in 1 day or even 1 lifetime. I guess that’s how the world became this way, because so many of us gave up while only a very few still believed they can make a difference. Don’t try to change the world, but don’t let the world change you either. Be better than what’s in the news and be better than what you see around you. Be better, but don’t judge those who aren’t quite there yet. Maybe they are just one step behind you.